FORBES  OF  HARVARD 


BY 


ELBERT  HUBBARD 
Author  of"  One  Day,"  "No  Enemy,"  etc. 


"  I  awoke  this  morning  with  devout  thanksgiving  for  my  friends,  the 
old  and  the  new.  Shall  1  not  call  God  the  Beautiful,  who  daily  showeth 
Himself  so  to  me  in  His  gifts?  "  —  EMERSON. 


BOSTON 
ARENA  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

COPLEY  SQUARE 

1894 


Copyrighted  1894 

By  ARENA  PUB.  Co. 

All  rights  reserved 


I    DEDICATE    THIS    BOOK    TO    THOSE    WHO    LOVE 

THEIR  FRIENDS,  AND  ESPECIALLY    TO    MY 

MOTHER  J    THE  RARE  EXCELLENCE 

OF  WHOSE  UNSELFISH  LIFE 

MIRRORS  THE  LIFE 

DIVINE. 


INTRODUCTION. 


'T'HE  sad  passing  away  of  Col.  Arthur  Ripley 
Forbes,  by  the  sinking  of  the  steamship 
Titania,  in  the  English  Channel,  has  placed  in 
my  hands,  as  Executor,  a  large  mass  of  corre 
spondence.  Many  of  the  letters  possessing  a 
certain  literary  value,  I  have  been  given  per 
mission  by  the  heirs  to  publish  such  of  the 
communications  as  I  thought  proper. 

Out  of  this  epistolary  aggregation  of  gossip, 
business,  philosophy,  friendship  and  love,  certain 
letters  have  been  selected,  and  by  arranging 
them  chronologically  they  tell  their  own  story. 

I  trust  that  those  who  read  this  simple  record 
of  loyal  friendship,  will  get  at  least  a  portion  of 
the  pleasure  out  of  its  perusal  that  has  been 
derived  from  the  pleasant  task  of  arranging 
the  facts  in  order. 

ELBERT  HUBBARP, 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 


NUMBER  I. 

MARIE  MEREDITH,  SPINSTER,  TO  ARTHUR  RIPLEV 
FORBES. 

Mr.  Forbes,  having  been  advised  by  his  physi 
cian  to  quit  college  on  account  of  his  health, 
follows  the  advice ;  but  financial  necessities 
compel  him  to  accept  a  position  as  school 
teacher.  His  plans  frustrated. 


CONCORD,  MASS.,  April  3,  1851. 
DEAR  ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES:  — 

We    have    heard    of   people    who   left   their 

country  for  their   country's   good ;   and   I   am 

sure  that  many  people  could  confer   a   great 

blessing    on    their    towns-people    by    moving 

1 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 


"away  off"  —wherever  that  is.  Dr.  Peabody 
has  advised  you  to  pack  up  your  scanty  earthly 
effects,  and  stand  not  on  the  order  of  your 
going,  but  go  at  once.  And  still,  last  week  I 
heard  that  instead  of  following  his  advice,  for 
which  he  probably  charged  you  two  dollars,  you 
have  agreed  to  teach  the  Lexington  school. 
You  are  to  begin  your  work  next  Monday,  by 
ringing  the  bell  promptly  at  nine  o'clock. 
Then  you  are  to  live  in  the  dust  raised  by  the 
shuffling  feet  of  fifty  boys  —  breathing  the  hot, 
stifling  atmosphere  polluted  by  the  individual 
family  perfume  of  a  'score  of  the  first  families, 
some  of  whom  go  swimming  in  warm  weather 
we  will  admit.  Do  not  forget  that  I  have 
taught  in  the  same  school  myself  and  know  the 
opportunities  for  ventilation.  Why,  if  you 
raise  a  sash  just  a  wee  bit,  it  makes  such  a 
draft  that  the  books  get  sucked  right  through 
the  window. 

So  you  are  going  to  teach  the  Lexington 
school,  are  you,  Arthur  Ripley  Forbes  ?  Well, 
not  exactly,  Mr.  Forbes !  I  have  written  them 
that  you  have  changed  your  mind,  gotten  the 
Pike's  Peak  fever,  and  would  start  to-morrow. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 


And  so  in  this  letter  I  enclose  you  a  New  York 
draft,  which  I  bought  in  Boston  to-day  for 
$326.25 ;  and,  in  addition,  I  send  a  railroad 
ticket  to  New  York,  which  must  be  used  within 
forty-eight  hours. 

Where  did  I  get  the  money  ?  None  of 
your  business,  Mr.  Forbes ;  I  did  not  give  it 
out  of  my  own  personal  pocket,  you  may  be 
sure.  Neither  did  I  steal  it.  But  I  want  you 
to  leave  this  place  at  once  and  go  straight  to 
Pike's  Peak.  Leave  Concord  for  Concord's 
good,  that  you  may  come  back  a  well  and 
strong  man.  It  is  a  long,  hard  trip,  I  know; 
but  it  will  not  kill  you,  and  we  do  not  want 
you  to  stay  here.  I  am  sick  and  tired  of  going 
to  a  funeral  every  week  —  the  mortality  rate 
is  getting  altogether  too  high  in  Middlesex 
County. 

Yours  earnestly, 

MARIE  MEREDITH. 

P.  S.  Start  to-morrow,  Arthur ;  only  your 
mother  and  I  will  be  at  the  station  to  see  you 
off,  and  there  will  be  no  fuss.  The  money 
was  given  by  lots  of  folks  who  love  you  well, 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 


Take  the  morning  train  into  Boston   and  you 
can  catch  the  express  for  Springfield. 


NUMBER  II. 

MR.    FORBES    TO    MISS    MEREDITH. 

The  advice  followed. 

CONCORD,  April  3,  1851.  —  8  P.  M. 
DEAR  AUNT  MARIE:  — 

I  have  decided  to   start  for  the   Far  West 
to-morrow. 

Yours  truly, 

A.  R.  FORBES. 


NUMBER  III. 

JOHN  HOLWORTHY  TO  ARTHUR  R.  FORBES. 

Mr.  Forbes1  former  room-mate  writes  a  breezy 
letter,  full  of  affection^  hope  and  good  cheer, 


FORBES  OF  HAR  VARD. 


HOLLIS  19,  CAMBRIDGE,  April  3,  1851. 
DEAR  OLD  CHUM: — 

Since  you  left  here,  three  weeks  ago,  the 
weather  has  been  decidedly  cloudy;  and  once 
or  twice,  when  I  glanced  over  at  your  little  bed 
in  the  corner  and  saw  how  nice  and  smooth 
and  white  the  covers  were,  it  looked  like  rain. 
But  they  have  put  a  new  man  in  with  me  now : 
Bridges  of  Albany,  perhaps  you  remember  him.. 
A  good  enough  sort  of  fellow,  but  he  is  not 
Arthur  Ripley  —  my  Arthur  —  tall,  slender,  sad 
and  mirthful  by  turn,  who  could  floor  any  man 
in  the  hall,  collar  and  elbow;  and  then  do  as 
much  for  the  professor  in  psychology  —  my 
Arthur,  who  wrote  the  thesis  for  Reddy  Smith, 
because  the  boy's  mother  died  and  he  was  so 
broke  up  that  his  red  head  would  not  work ; 
and  who  wrote  a  better  thesis  than  he  intended 
to,  so  that  it  took  the  Bowdoin  prize  of  fifty 
dollars,  and  set  a  pace  so  rapid  for  the  genial 
Reddy,  that  he  could  never  approach  his  record, 
and  has  lived  in  suspicion  ever  since  !  Never 
mind,  old  man ;  you  did  not  mean  to  do  it,  did 
you  ? 

In  the  Latin  class,   we  had  a  high  old  time 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 


last   week.     You  remember  Professor   R 

generally  brings  his  big  Newfoundland,  and  the 
dog  takes  a  quiet  nap  while  the  professor  gives 
his  lecture.  Well,  young  Larkin  brought  a 
dog,  too  —  a  bull  terrier,  with  a  collar  and 
chain.  When  the  lecture  was  about  half  over 
we  heard  that  chain  rattle,  and  the  next  instant 
the  terrier  was  on  the  platform  and  had  the 
Newfoundland  by  the  neck.  The  big  dog 
gave  a  yelp,  and  then  they  went  at  it.  They 
upset  the  globe,  and  an  easel  with  a  blackboard 
on  it,  and  then  the  dogs  fought  under  the 
benches  and  all  over  the  room  before  we  could 
get  'em  separated.  The  following  day  there 
was  a  sign  on  the  door,  "Positively  no  dogs 
allowed  in  Class  Rooms."  At  the  next  lec 
ture  given  by  Professor  R ,  in  walked  six 

Seniors,  each  leading  a  cat  by  a  chain. 

That  last  hemorrhage  you  had  scared  us  all, 
and  I  am  inclined  to  think,  now,  that  if  you  had 
stayed  here,  it  would  have  been  just  as  well  — 
provided  you  would  have  been  willing  to  go 
slow,  and  not  make  yourself  a  pack-horse  for 
every  poor  fellow  who  cannot  pass  his  "zam" 
or  pay  his  board. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 


I  am  sure  it  is  not  phthisis  :  your  lungs  are 
not  affected,  for  you  had  a  great  appetite  and 
only  coughed  a  little,  and  that  in  the  mornings. 

But  now  I  hear  that  you  are  going  to  Pike's 
Peak  —  well,  that  is  great  —  pick  up  all  the 
nuggets  you  can,  and  don't  forget  to  send  a 
basket  around  .to  Hollis  for  the  boys  who 
swear  by  Arthur  Ripley  Forbes. 

"Gawd  bless  you,  me  che-ild!"  Write 
us  a  letter  once  in  a  while,  such  as  only  you 
can  pen,  and  I  will  read  it  at  the  Phi  Beta 
Kappa.  How  the  boys  will  applaud  ! 

Ever  and  always, 

JACK. 


NUMBER  IV. 

HEZEKIAH    PENNAWORTH    TO    EDMUND    HOSMER. 

A  letter  to  an  old  resident  of  Concord.  Another 
student  has  something  to  say  —  somewhat 
stilted  and  pedantic,  perhaps ;  but  gives  his 
version  of  an  extraordinary  occurrence.  "It 
all  depends  upon  the  point  of  view.11 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 


DEP'T  OF  DIVINITY,  HARVARD  UNIVERSITY, 

CAMBRIDGE,  April  6,  1851. 
MY  DEAR  SIR:  — 

I  have  a  peculiar  respect  for  your  quiet  vil 
lage  on  account  of  its  historical  connections, 
but  I  feel  it  my  duty  now  to  relate  to  you  a 
little  experience  which  I  had  a  few  days  ago, 
that  has  placed  me  in  a  most  embarrassing 
position.  All  brought  about  by  an  eccentric 
female  purporting  to  reside  in  your  village.  I 
had  the  honor  of  leading  the  chapel  exercises 
on  the  morning  in  question,  and  would  not 
have  been  imposed  on  as  I  was,  had  it  not 
been  that  this  female  brought  me  a  letter  from 
Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  ;  for  whom,  you  know, 
I  have  a  strong  personal  regard,  although  I 
must  here  say  his  philosophy  is  most  mysti 
cal  (if  I  may  use  the  expression)  —  dangerous 
—  tending  to  unseat  the  moral  convictions  of 
even  those  who  have  grown  to  years  of  discre- 
ti6n,  to  say  nothing  of  its  bad  effect  on  the 
growing  minds  of  the  young. 

As  I  hope  soon  to  be  an  instructor  in  Har 
vard,  I  must  contradict  the  imputation  that 
has  been  put  forth  by  persons  evilly  disposed, 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 


that  these  peculiar,  insidious  ideas  (if  I  may  be 
allowed  the  expression)  were  acquired  in  this 
institution  of  learning.  For  while  Harvard 
College  is  most  liberal  in  all  things,  giving  to 
every  man  a  perfect  right  to  think  for  himself, 
yet,  in  our  imparting  instruction,  we  know 
where  to  draw  the  line  between  liberal  Chris 
tianity  and  that  Germanic  imported  thing, 
which  they  are  pleased  to  call  "Christian 
Rationalism ; "  which,  my  dear  brother,  you 
must  admit,  is  neither  Christian  or  Rational  (if 
I  may  be  allowed  to  use  the  comparison). 

Mr.  Emerson  is  an  alumnus  of  this  college, 
and  I  have  for  him,  personally,  a  great  affection 
(which  remark  does  not  imply  that  I  endorse 
any  of  his  so-called  philosophy).  So,  when  the 
female  presented  herself  in  College  Chapel  yes 
terday,  with  a  letter  from  Mr.  Emerson,  intro 
ducing  her  and  speaking  of  her  most  highly,  I 
at  once,  unthinkingly,  granted  her  request  to 
say  a  few  words  to  the  men  before  they  were 
dismissed. 

She  wore  a  most  peculiar  bonnet  of  large 
dimensions,  with  wicked  intent,  I  now  believe, 
of  making  me  think  she  was  a  Quakeress; 


10  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

and  as  you  know  the  women  of  this  sect 
are  often  given  to  public  speaking,  setting 
aside  the  words  of  St.  Paul,  "suffer  not  a 
woman  to  teach,"  I  the  more  readily  assented, 
as  our  college  is  most  liberal  in  all  things. 
Her  manner  was  most  brusque  and  assertive. 
In  fact,  she  rather  demanded  permission  to 
speak  than  asked  it,  and  you  well  know  that  no 

Christian  gentleman  can  afford  to  get   into  a 

f 
disputation   with   a  female  —  their  talk    never 

being  of  a  logical  order;  always  without 
sequence  and  lacking  synthetic  quality.  So  I 
have  made  it  a  rule,  in  the  past,  to  allow  them 
to  have  their  own  way.  I  make  this  excuse 
for  not  appealing  to  argumentum  Baculinum 
and  ejecting  the  intruder  at  once.  In  fact,  my 
warm  sympathetic  nature  may  cause  me  to  lose 
my  prospective  position  here,  and  certainly  it 
has  already  brought  upon  me  much  obloquy. 
I  was  about  to  dismiss  the  congregation  with 
the  benediction,  when  this  woman  presented 
herself,  carrying  a  large  basket  on  one  arm,  and 
an  umbrella,  tied  about  with  a  strip  of  cotton 
cloth.  She  set  her  basket  on  the  platform,  and 
at  once  began  to  speak  of  the  sympathy  which 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  11 

should  exist  between  man  and  man :  that,  if  a 
worthy  man  needed  help,  all  others,  who  had  it 
in  their  power  to  do  so,  should  be  thankful  for 
the  privilege  of  assisting  him.  The  boys  in 
the  back  part  of  the  chapel  began  to  applaud 
(a  thing  which  should  never  occur  in  a  house 
set  apart  for  sacred  worship).  Several  Method 
ists  among  the  pupils  shouted  "Amen" — or 
words  to  that  effect  —  and  this  only  encouraged 
the  female,  who  spake  the  louder  and  faster; 
and  several  times,  by  way  of  emphasis,  she 
smote  the  sacred  desk  with  her  umbrella.  One 
of  the  Freshmen  requested  her  to  hit  it  again, 
which  caused  the  unruly  to  applaud  the  more. 
She  then  told  of  how  a  student  of  this  college 
had  tuberculosis,  or  at  least  was  threatened 
with  it,  or  some  bronchitic  affection  —  of  how 
he  supported  his  mother,  and  had  given  money 
to  other  students  more  needy  than  himself  — 
and  now,  when  he  was  so  reduced,  physically, 
that  he  could  no  longer  follow  his  studies,  he 
found  himself  penniless,  and  proposed  to  go  to 
teaching  school.  "If  he  is  allowed  to  do 
this,"  she  continued,  "he  will  die  in  a  month; 
but  if  the  money  can  be  raised  to  send  him 


12  FORBES  OF  HARVARD, 

away  to  Pike's  Peak,  he  will  probably  recover." 
She  wound  up  her  harangue  with,  "The  name 
of  the  young  man  is  Arthur  Ripley  Forbes, 
'52." 

Of  course  all  the  boys  know  Forbes  —  the 
tallest  man  in  the  school  —  and  before  the 
old  woman  had  gotten  the  words  out  of  her 
mouth  they  sent  up  a  most  disagreeable  shout ; 
and  this  woman  ordered  four  men  on  the  front 
seat  to  pass  the  hats,  for  she  wanted  three  hun 
dred  dollars  for  Forbes  within  ten  minutes. 
Everybody  seemed  to  lose  his  head  —  I  put 
in  a  dollar  before  I  thought.  Those  who  had 
left  their  purses  at  home  borrowed  of  others, 
and  I  am  sure  she  got  over  three  hundred  dol 
lars.  She  did  not  wait  to  count  the  money  or 
thank  me  for  the  use  of  the  platform,  nor  to 
hear  the  benediction,  but  away  she  went  with 
the  money  tied  up  in  a  big  red  handkerchief ; 
her  basket  on  one  arm  and  her  umbrella  over 
her  shoulder.  It  seems  she  came  in  an  old 
chaise  drawn  by  a  white  horse.  She  left  this 
horse  standing  on  Quincy  Street  in  care  of  a 
Sophomore,  to  whom  she  beckoned,  and,  call 
ing  him  to  her,  addressed  him  most  disrespect- 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  13 

fully  thus :  "  Sonny,  hold  this  horse  until  I 
come  back." 

After  thinking  the  matter  over,  I  am  fully 
convinced  that  we  have  been  imposed  upon. 

There  is  no  guarantee  that  this  woman  will 
ever  use  the  money  for  Mr.  Forbes ;  and  I 
do  not  think  she  had  any  authority  from 
him  to  make  the  appeal  in  his  behalf.  If 
Mr.  Forbes  needed  our  assistance,  it  would 
have  been  more  proper  for  him  to  have  laid  the 
matter  before  the  Faculty,  so  it  could  have 
been  considered  by  the  Finance  Committee. 

In  justice  to  Mr.  Forbes  (for  we  are  a  liberal 
institution  and  would  not  wrong  any  man),  I 
must  say  he  was  always  a  fairly  good  student ; 
although  he  could  never  win  a  diploma,  Magna 
Cum  Lauda. 

I  do  not  want  to  say  anything  against  him  ; 
but  several  times  he  has  been  caught  in  the 
act  of  assisting  dull  students  in  their  examina 
tions,  and  once  he  put  eleven  frogs  in  my  desk 
so  that  they  hopped  out  the  next  morning 
when  I  opened  the  drawer  —  causing  me 
a  severe  nervous  shock.  He  afterwards 
explained  that  the  frogs  were  only  placed  there 


14  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

temporarily,  being  designed  for  the  Department 
of  Natural  History,  so  I  forgave  the  offense. 

I  do  not  think  he  is  threatened  with  tuber 
culosis;  he  had,  I  believe,  a  slight  cough,  not 
much  more  than  a  clearing  of  the  throat  —  a 
habit,  I  should  say  —  and  the  last  few  days  he 
was  here  he  had  more  color  in  his  cheeks  than 
any  who  sat  near  him.  And  then  he  has  a 
splendid  physique  —  tall  and  erect. 

This  may  be  merely  a  designing  scheme  of 
Forbes'  to  excite  the  sympathy  of  Christian 
people  —  his  plan  being  to  divide  the  spoils 
with  the  female  I  have  spoken  of  —  or  she  may 
be  acting  alone.  At  any  rate,  I  desire  you,  as 
my  friend,  to  thoroughly  sift  the  matter ;  and,  if 
the  law  has  been  transgressed,  I  hope  you  will 
bring  the  offender  to  justice  —  let  the  blow 
fall  where  it  will. 

Believe  me,  I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

HEZEKIAH  PENNAWORTH. 

P.  S.  I  must  add  that  Mr.  Emerson  is  not 
blameless  in  this  matter;  having  been  the  cause 
of  this  female  speaking  from  the  platform  in 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  15 

College  Chapel  —  no  woman  ever  having  spoken 
there  before.  Her  smiting  of  the  sacred  desk 
with  the  umbrella,  and  the  riotous  applause, 
being  most  unseemly  —  all  of  which  may  make 
me  serious  trouble  if  the  Faculty  see  fit  to  act 
upon  it. 

H.  P. 


NUMBER  V. 

MR.      EDMUND      HOSMER      TO      REV.      HEZEKIAH 
PENNAWORTH. 

Mr.  Edmund  Hosmer  assures  Mr.  Pennaworth 
that  Miss  Meredith  is  a  worthy  person,  and 
gives  an  interesting  fact  concerning  her. 

CONCORD,  MASS.,  April  7,  1851. 
MY  DEAR  SIR  :  — 

Your  letter  received.  The  only  woman  I 
know,  who  is  capable  of  the  conduct  you  detail, 
is  Miss  Marie  Meredith,  a  maiden-lady  of  this 
village.  While  somewhat  eccentric,  she  is  a 
most  excellent  person  in  every  respect,  and  has 
the  confidence  of  all  good  people  in  this  com 
munity.  Her  name  should  live  in  history,  as 
she  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 


16  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

woman     principal    of     a     public     school     ever 
employed  in  this  capacity  in  Massachusetts. 

Any  funds  you  have  placed  in  the  hands  of 
Miss  Meredith,  I  am  sure,  will  be  wisely  and 
properly  used. 

Respectfully  yours, 

EDMUND  HOSMER. 


NUMBER  VI. 

JOHN  HOLWORTHY  TO  ARTHUR  R.   FORBES. 

A  glimpse  of  that  fine  feeling  of  affection,  so 
often  found  among  college  students.  The 
other  side  of  that  strange  procedure.  What 
Pennaworth  lacks  in  humor  Holworthy  seems 
to  make  up.  A  suggestive  postscript. 

HOLLIS   19,  CAMBRIDGE,  MASS., 

April  7,  1851. 
DEAR  OLD  CHUM:  — 

I  haven't  much  time  to  write,  but  I  will  send 
this  to  Buffalo  at  a  venture,  as  I  hear  you  will 
stay  there  and  at  Niagara  Falls  a  day  or  so. 

That  pain  in  your  side  is  nothing,  dear  boy ; 
I  have  it  myself,  sometimes.  And  those  night 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  17 

sweats  —  I  know  they  make  you  weak;  but 
what  does  a  fellow  deserve  who  goes  around 
tutoring,  and  then  sits  up  half  the  night 
getting  his  own  lessons.  New  sights  and 
new  scenes,  with  fresh  air,  will  fix  the  old 
man  up  in  good  shape  soon;  and  when  he 
comes  back  we  will  meet  him  in  the  outskirts 
with  a  carriage.  We  will  unloose  the  horses, 
and  a  hundred  men  will  get  hold  of  the  rope 
and  pull  him  over  to  Harvard  Square  in  state ; 
we  will  have  a  banquet,  and  the  old  man  will 
make  so  good  a  speech,  as  usual,  that  it  will 
leave  nothing  for  the  rest  to  say. 

The  big  debate,  I  told  you  of,  comes  off 
soon,  and  I  have  been  named  as  one  of  the 
speakers. 

Great  excitement  last  week ;  something 
never  known  in  old  Harvard  before.  I'll  let 
you  guess  four  times;  yes,  ten — a  hundred. 
No !  you  are  wrong.  A  woman  made  a  speech 
in  College  Chapel,  and  the  boys  applauded  so 
that  they  cracked  two  of  the  memorial  win 
dows  ;  and  the  bust  of  old  Quincy  frowned  and 
called,  "Order!"  Fact!  I  hope  to  never! 
And  who  was  the  woman  ?  Give  you  twelve 


18  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

times  to  guess.  Give  it  up?  Well,  it  was 
Aunt  Marie  Meredith  ;  and  Choate  could  not 
match  her,  if  she  would  only  take  the  platform. 
I  was  so  interested  in  what  she  was  saying,  I 
forgot  the  old  woman ;  but  I  know  she  was 
wonderfully  eloquent. 

Well,  I  was  going  to  tell  you :  Serious 
Penny,  the  Theolog,  had  charge  of  the  chapel 
service  that  morning,  and  Aunt  Marie  just 
edged  him  off  the  platform  and  began  her  little 
speech.  It  was  only  about  five  minutes  long  — 
something  about  the  brotherhood  of  man.  It 
would  not  interest  you,  anyway ;  but  it  touched 
several  of  the  boys  so  that  they  mopped,  and 
Bridges  got  something  in  his  eye  and  blew  his 
nose  on  his  coat  tail.  Some  of  the  boys  have 
got  up  a  sham  petition  to  present  to  the  Fac 
ulty  because  they  say  Penny  invited  a  woman  to 
preach  in  College  Chapel,  and  they  want  him 
bounced  for  treason  in  trying  to  have  an  old 
woman  president  in  place  of  Sparks.  Penny 
has  written  a  long  letter  to  Sparks,  explaining 
that  Aunt  Marie  got  under  way  before  he  could 
get  his  breath,  and  the  end  is  not  yet. 

Since  the  Baptists  gave  it  up,  Aunt  Marie  is 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  19 

preaching,  every  Sunday  afternoon,  at  the  little 
red  school-house  over  by  the  Pond.  Not  much 
science  in  her  homiletics,  I  guess;  but  she 
gives  it  to  'em  straight  as  to  how  people 
should  live.  They  say  the  folks  around  there 
turn  out  great  to  hear  her  —  lots  of  them  never 
inside  a  church,  I  suppose. 

We  had  quite  a  scare,  the  other  day,  when  we 
saw  a  big  red  printed  card  on  the  pump,  out  in 
front  of  Hollis,  reading  —  "The  water  in  this 
well  has  been  analyzed  by  the  Board  of  Health 
and  found  unfit  for  use."  The  sign  stayed 
there  all  day,  as  everybody  thought  it  was  all 
straight.  The  Faculty  sent  for  the  Secretary 
of  the  Board  of  Health,  and  gave  him  a  great 
going-over ;  but  it  turned  out  that  some  of  the 
boys  had  stolen  the  sign  off  from  a  pump  over 
in  Boston,  and  tacked  it  on  ours.  Bridges  had 
not  been  feeling  well  for  a  day  or  so,  and  when 
we  saw  the  sign  he  said  he  always  knew  the 
water  in  that  well  was  "pizen." 

Bridges  is  a  fine  fellow,  but  he  ain't  my 
Arthur  of  the  Round  Table. 

Eat  all  you  can,  old  man ;  and  remember,  I 
will  divide  my  last  crust  with  you  —  although, 


20  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

you  old  rascal,  you  never  would  accept  "  noth 
ing  from  nobody "  when  here.  But  I  hope 
your  proud  spirit  will  get  broken,  so  that  you 
will  write  and  ask  me  for  something.  I  want 
to  send  you  something,  or  do  something  for 
you,  and  here  all  I  can  send  is  my  love. 

Bridges  says  he  will  tumble  out  and  give  you 
back  your  bed  whenever  you  want  it,  which  I 
hope  will  be  soon.  Rah,  Rah,  Rah,  Fifty- 
two,  Staunch  and  True,  Rah,  Rah,  Rah, 
H-A-R-V-A-R-D. 

God  bless  you,  old  man !  Don't  forget  the 
nuggets  when  you  get  to  Pike's  Peak.  You 
always  got  the  nuggets  (of  wisdom)  here,  you 

surely  will  not  miss  them  there. 

JACK. 

P.  S.  Was  up  to  Concord  Sunday.  Our 
stately  Minerva  —  what's  her  name?  the  tall 
Iris  that  lives  with  the  Alcotts — asked  if  I 
miss  you.  Do  I  miss  you,  old  chum  ? 


NUMBER  VII. 

ARTHUR      RIPLEY       FORBES      TO       MISS        MARIE 
MEREDITH. 

Mr.  Forbes  writes  to  the  woman  who  is  "aunt" 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  21 

to  the  wJiole  community.  The  journey  de 
scribed.  Despair  veiled  in  lightsome,  playful 
vein.  A  modern  Mercutio.  "A  deal  more 
kindness  in  tJie  world  than  is  ever  spoken." 

MANSION  HOUSE,  BUFFALO,  N.  Y., 

April  8,  1851. 
DEAR  AUNT  MARIE  :  — 

Thus  far  am  I  on  my  journey.  I  have  fol 
lowed  your  orders  about  not  drawing  on  my 
vitality  by  writing  letters,  but  to-day  I  am 
quite  in  the  mood.  You  know  I  have  always 
respected  your  whim  about  disliking  to  shake 
hands ;  but  that  other  whim,  that  you  do  not 
want  to  be  thanked,  I  will  now  defy.  Here 
am  I,  twenty-four  years  old  last  December  — 
twenty-first  day,  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  — 
six  feet  three,  weight  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
five,  and  not  a  dollar  in  the  wide  world  but 
what  you  have  given  me.  You  paid  my  tui 
tion  at  Harvard  besides ;  although  no  one 
knows  it.  So  I  am  under  obligation  to  you, 
not  only  for  the  dollars  I  have,  but  for  the 
ideas  I  possess,  as  well. 

In  interpreting  the  parable  of  the  talents,  you 
know,  Deacon  Peepson  always  gives  it  the  pure 


22  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Connecticut  bias.  Why  do  you  not  learn  at  the 
feet  of  Deacon  Peepson  :  increase  your  dollars, 
instead  of  bestowing  them  on  young  men  of  very 
hazy  prospects,  or  loaning  them  to  older  ones 
with  future  still  more  obscure  ?  I  really  believe 
you  have  given  the  dear  old  wood-sawing  philoso 
pher  a  hundred  dollars  the  past  year ;  and  it 
makes  me  smile  audibly,  when  I  think  how 
careful  he  always  is  to  issue  his  note  for  these 
favors.  Yet,  if  Louisa  turns  out  to  be  half 
what  you  prophesy,  it  will  all  come  back  to 
you,  with  usurious  interest,  in  the  shape  of 
satisfaction.  Satisfaction  is  not  quoted  as  a 
negotiable  security  on  Milk  Street,  but  I  rather 
think  that  happiness  is  transferable  after  all ; 
and  all  you  want  it  for,  you  selfish  old  maid,  is 
to  give  it  away.  But  to  return  to  your  finan 
ces  :  although  I  cannot  manage  my  own, 
should  that  hinder  me  from  giving  you 
advice  about  yours  ?  Perish  the  thought ! 

Well,  your  money  is  all  in  the  mill  stock, 
which  pays  you  a  fair  rate  of  interest,  yet 
it  may  not  always  pay ;  so  I  would  advise 
you  to  save  up  for  your  old  age.  Let  me 
see !  —  my  old  aunt  is  sixty-one ;  but,  pshaw  !  I 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  23 

forgot,  it  is  not  years  that  make  people  old ! 
My  dear  aunt  was  never  any  younger,  nor  will 
she  ever  be  any  older,  than  she  is  now. 

Although  the  frosts  of  sixty-one  winters 
have  whitened  her  hair  a  trifle,  yet  she  is  the 
same  scolding,  loving,  working,  praying,  laugh 
ing,  scoffing,  tender-hearted  heretic  that  she 
always  was.  I  set  out,  in  this  letter,  to  thank 
her  for  all  she  has  bestowed  on  me,  in  the  way 
of  admonition,  intellectual  fly-blister,  tender 
love,  rebuke,  and  coin  of  the  realm ;  but,  now 
that  I  try  it,  a  big  lump  comes  in  my  throat 
and  I  cannot  see  the  lines  on  the  paper.  I 
chew  my  penholder,  and  do  not  know  what  to 
say  that  will  not  be  thrown  back  to  me ;  and 
so,  in  despair,  I  give  it  up,  and  say,  God  knows ! 
And  my  Aunt  Marie,  living  so  close  to  Him,  in 
her  cottage  with  her  cat,  under  the  pines,  the 
lilacs  in  the  yard,  and  the  lines  of  box-wood 
and  gooseberry  bushes  in  the  garden,  and  the 
rose  bush  climbing  over  the  door,  and  the 
Musketequid  flowing  lazily  by — surely,  she 
knows,  too. 

To  him  that  hath  shall  be  given.  Did  ever 
unworthy  mortal  have  such  friends  as  have 


24  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

been  given  to  me  ?  Everyone  seems  to  know 
it,  and  they  try  to  outdo  the  friends  at  home. 
But  if  they  were  wise  they  would  give  up  in 
despair.  Coming  here  from  Albany,  the  con 
ductor  made  up  a  bunk  in  the  express  car,  with 
a  pile  of  mail  bags  for  a  mattress,  and  the 
brakeman  contributed  a  big  overcoat  (that 
smelled  very  strongly  of  tobacco) ;  and  these, 
with  the  new  quilt  you  gave  me,  made  a  very 
comfortable  bed.  I  slept  well,  and  dreamed  of 
fishing  in  Walden  Lake  and  catching  a  Har 
vard  diploma  without  honors.  I  am  fully 
persuaded, that  if  I  ever  get  a  Harvard  diploma, 
it  will  be  in  that  way. 

In  the  morning,  when  I  got  up,  the 
express  messenger  wanted  to  divide  his 
lunch  with  me.  He  sorted  mail,  and  flung 
the  letters  with  a  dextrous  twist  right 
and  left,  high  and  low,  always  in  the 
right  box,  and  gave  me  his  family  history  at 
the  same  time.  When  I  started  to  go,  I 
thanked  him  for  his  kindness,  and  told  him  I 
was  glad  of  the  privilege  of  riding  in  the  bag 
gage  car,  for  I  expected  to  come  back  that 
way.  He  stopped  his  flinging  the  letters  and 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  25 

said,  with  something  that  sounded  very  much 
like  a  swear  word :  "  Now,  you  there,  pard,  let 
up  on  that ;  don't  you  lose  your  nerve  !  Why, 
you  only  have  a  bad  cold ;  that's  what  makes 
your  side  ache.  When  you  get  to  Buffalo,  if 
you  will  go  with  me,  my  old  mother  will  fix 
you  up  a  dose  that  will  make  a  man  of  you." 
One  of  the  great  disadvantages  of  being  a 
semi-invalid  is,  that  we  have  to  listen  to  all  the 
good  people  who  have  had  exactly  the  same  ex 
perience  that  we  have.  I  already  have  a  note 
book  nearly  filled  with  recipes,  all  of  which  are 
warranted  to  cure  me.  One  old  lady  on  the 
train,  who,  in  a  high  conversational  soprano, 
told  the  entire  car  about  her  son  in  Ohio, 
whom  she  was  going  to  visit,  leaned  over  the 
aisle  and  said  to  me:  "La  me!  Young  man, 
you  look  as  if  you  was  going  inter  the  con 
sumption  !  Our  neighbor  Smith's  hired  man 
didn't  look  half  so  bad  as  you,  and  he  died 
right  in  his  cheer.  What !  You  ain't  travellin' 
alone,  be  you  ?  Dear  me !  You  must  take 
some  of  my  elderberry  wine  to  wunst." 

Mr.  Emerson  always  told  us,  you  know,  that 
there  was  a  deal  more  kindness  in  the  world 


26  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

than  was  ever  spoken ;  and  surely  mankind  are 
not  so  bad,  after  all !  If  we  always  had  the 
power  to  touch  the  unseen  spring,  how  the 
heart  would  open  and  sympathy  and  affection 
step  forth ! 

You  will  be  glad  to  know  that  my  appetite  is 
good,  and  that  I  have  dozed  and  day-dreamed 
and  been  really  happy.  Can  I  ever  repay  the 
dear  ones  who  have  shown  such  lavish  kind 
ness  ?  No,  I  cannot ;  but  I  believe  that  some 
where  and  somehow,  there  is  a  something  that 
will  reward  you  all.  Above  the  feebleness  of 
man  is  God. 

Does  it  not  seem  a  little  queer,  that  I,  who, 
two  years  ago,  was  the  most  active  and  strong 
est  man  in  my  class,  should  now  wear  a  shawl, 
and  pipe  in  falsetto?  —  strong  in  every  part 
save  one.  If  the  king  pin  of  a  wagon  breaks, 
we  put  in  another.  Does  the  tire  come  off,  we 
put  it  on.  If  a  spoke  breaks,  we  replace  it. 
But  when  one  part  of  a  man's  body  gives  out, 
we  —  deed  him  real  estate,  two  by  six,  pass 
resolutions  and  write  his  obituary. 

I  leave  for  Chicago  to-morrow  —  then  to  St. 
Louis,  and  from  there  the  work  really  begins. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  27 

Overland  in  a  prairie  schooner,  I  suppose ; 
which  I  have  heard  of,  but  never  seen.  Two 
years  ago  I  would  have  gloried  in  the  prospect. 
I  am  a  savage  at  heart,  and  always  had  a  desire 
to  live  in  the  open  air  —  to  return  to  nature 
and  be  her  child,  resting  on  her  breast  and 
having  her  gentle  voice  sing  me  to  sleep  and 
her  bounty  feed  me  when  awake.  But  now  it 
is  all  so  close  at  hand,  I  shrink  from  the  pros 
pect.  It  quite  took  my  strength  to  walk  up  two 
flights  of  stairs  to-day ;  but  here  is  consolation 
—  if  I  fail,  I  will  not  be  the  first.  There  are 
more  on  the  other  side  of  the  Styx  than  here. 
My  friend,  the  expressman,  will  handle  the 
mail  more  gently  when  he  reads  the  name  on 
the  wooden  box.  He  will  tiptoe  across  the  car 

and  say  to  the   brakeman,  "  D you,  Jim, 

don't  you  swear  in  here  !  "  as  he  points  to  the 
corner.  And  he  will  forget,  that  morning,  to 
open  the  sliding  door  and  wave  at  the  girls  in 
the  farm-house,  as  the  train  goes  whirling  by. 
And  then  there  is  rest  —  sweet  rest !  I  do  so 
sigh  for  rest.  Sleepy  Hollow,  over  the  hills, 
with  its  sighing  pines  and  great  rocks, 
and  the  quiet  where  my  father  sleeps.  So, 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 


whether  it  is  this  way  or  that,  I  am  content. 
With  great  love  I  am, 

Most  sincerely,  your 

ARTHUR. 


NUMBER  VIII. 

ARTHUR  R.   FORBES  TO  JOHN  HOLWORTHY. 

Another  letter  from  Forbes.  He  adapts  his 
style  to  the  correspondent.  Chicago  peculiari 
ties.  What  did  Aunt  Marie  talk  about  ? 
One  of  three  things  will  happen  to  him. 
Which  will  it  be  ?  A  postscript. 

CHICAGO,  April  1 1,  1851. 
MY  DEAR  OLD  CHUM  :  — 

This  is  the  most  active,  bustling  place  you 
ever  heard  of.  It  seems  to  be  filled  with 
young  men  from  the  East. 

In  Boston  you  go  into  a  business  house, 
ask  for  "the  head  of  the  firm,"  and  you 
are  shown  into  the  private  office  of  a 
white-whiskered  old  patriarch,  who  patroniz 
ingly  freezes  you  by  saying,  "  Ah !  Now, 
my  son  —  well,  what  can  I  do  for  you  to- 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  29 

day?"  You  are  looked  upon  as  a  mendicant. 
I  would  rather  face  an  audience  in  Faneuil 
Hall  than  approach  one  of  those  gods  of  coffee, 
sugar  and  pork,  on  Long  Wharf.  But  here  it  is 
all  changed :  the  he^d  of  the  house  in  Chicago 
is  a  smart  young  fellow,  shrewd,  clear-headed, 
ready.  He  reaches  out  his  hand  whether 
he  has  ever  seen  you  before  or  not,  tosses 
your  letters  of  introduction  into  a  corner, 
unread,  slaps  you  on  the  back  and  says,  "Well, 
old  boy,  how  do  you  like  the  glorious  West?" 
And  you  are  old  friends  in  half  a  minute. 

Lots  of  Harvard  men  here,  and  everybody 
but  me  is  on  the  go.  Options,  corner  lots,  job 
lots,  foot  front,  bargains,  and  "  sure  thing " 
contracts  is  what  one  hears.  No  time  for  gos 
sip.  "  Glad  to  see  you  !  Let's  take  something  ! 
Well,  come  around  to-morrow,"  and  my  hand  is 
wrung  and  off  he  flies  after  "a  deal."  Just 
what  a  deal  is,  I  have  not  yet  learned ;  but  it 
must  be  a  very  attractive  sort  of  animal :  if  I 
secure  one,  I  will  stuff  it  and  send  it  to  you  for 
the  Peabody  Museum. 

If  I  had  a  tithe  of  my  old-time  ambition,  I 
would  "squat"  here  and  make  my  fortune. 


30  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

As  it  is,  I  have  almost  caught  the  spirit,  and 
to-day  bolted  my  dinner  in  five  minutes,  giving 
the  waiter  a  quarter  and  telling  him  to  "move 
lively."  Then  I  got  up  from  the  table  with  a 
quarter  section  of  pie  in^my  hand,  eating  as  I 
walked.  It  must  be  a  very  healthful  place,  too ; 
for  we  had  three  kinds  of  climate  to-day  in 
twenty  minutes.  But  even  this  does  not  tempt 
me  to  stay  and  become  a  "hustler." 

The  clear  type  of  the  genus  hustler  goes  on 
voyages  of  conquest  and  discovery  into  other 
men's  pockets.  His  counting-room  is  his 
church;  his  desk  his  pew;  his  ledger  his 
Bible;  his  god  is  gold,  and  credit  his  faith. 
Nature  sacrifices  the  man  to  complete  the 
work. 

I  got  your  billet-doux  at  Buffaloux,  and  of 
course  was  much  pleased  to  hear  from  my  old 
chum.  My  regards  to  Bridges,  and  tell  him  to 
sleep  in  the  bed  in  peace  :  I  shall  never  want 
it.  I  am  going  to  do  one  of  three  things : 

1.  Be  planted  deep  on  the  prairie. 

2.  Wear  a  wooden  overcoat,  with  a  tag  on, 
reading : 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  31 


With  Care 
To  the  Sexton  of  Sleepy  Hollow 

Concord 
Middlesex  Co.  Mass. 


3.  Live  my  life,  secure  a  good  name,  and 
get  rich  in  the  wild  West. 

The  turning  point  between  No.  i  and  No.  2 
lies  in  the  possibility  of  there  being  found 
money  enough,  in  the  lining  of  my  vest,  to  pay 
expenses  back  on  the  box.  A  request  to  this 
effect  is  now  neatly  folded  in  my  pocket-book. 

At  night,  when  I  go  to  bed,  I  feel  so  tired  I 
am  sure  it  will  be  No.  I.  When  I  get  up  in 
the  morning  I  am  positive  it  will  be  No.  2. 
After  I  get  breakfast  and  move  around  a 
little,  I  try  to  bluff  Arthur  Ripley  Forbes  into 
a  bet  that  it  will  be  No.  3  ;  and  so  it  goes,  each 
day. 

What  you  told  me  about  Aunt  Marie  and 
College  Chapel,  made  me  forget  my  side-ache 


32  FORBES  OF  HAR1  ARD. 

and  laugh  aloud.  I  am  not  surprised,  for  she  is 
equal  to  almost  anything;  but  what  did  she 
talk  about?  Admittance  of  girls  to  Harvard,  I 
suppose.  Well,  the  boys  won't  object.  Give 
Stoughton  up  to  the  dear  creatures,  have  a 
dancing  platform  out  in  front  of  Gore  and  get 
out  the  catgut  and  horse-hair.  Ah,  excuse 
me  —  I  will  take  that  back.  I  have  decided  to 
return  to  Harvard,  and  after  graduating  I  pro 
pose  to  return  as  a  Post-Graduate.  I  may 
become  a  grind  —  who  knows!  —  and  go  to 
school  indefinitely,  as  they  do  at  Heidelberg. 
Don't  fool  yourself,  old  chum :  if  by  any  mira 
cle  the  girls  should  get  into  Harvard,  they  will 
make  you  fellows  brighten  up  your  wits.  You 
don't  believe  this,  and  old  Jared  Sparks  would 
call  it  idiotic  drivel  and  pluck  me  for  being  an 
ass ;  but  Balaam's  ass  knew  a  thing  or  two. 
You  hear  me,  you  grinning  monkey  ?  Well, 
laugh  away;  it's  so,  just  the  same. 

The  presence  of  women  in  a  lecture  room 
would  work  a  change  in  the  manners  of  profess 
ors,  for  one  thing.  You  have  noticed  that 
when  a  Harvard  professor  reads  his  lecture, 
he  often  seats  himself  in  a  chair  and  sprawls 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  33 

over  the  table  like  a  devil-fish  seeking  its 
prey. 

If  he  is  not  confined  to  his  manuscript,  he 
may  lean  back  and  endeavor  to  balance  his 
weight  on  one  leg  of  the  chair;  his  hands  are 
in  his  pockets  up  to  his  elbows,  and  often  one 
foot  is  on  the  table.  The  students  forget  the 
theme  to  watch  the  gyrations,  and  all  pray  hard 
that  the  Prof,  will  take  a  tumble.  You  remem 
ber  old  Doctor  Hardhead,  who  gave  the  course 
in  Geology,  used  to  lecture  resting  one  foot  in 
a  seat ;  and  in  the  pause  that  marked  the  exit 
of  one  thought  and  the  coming  of  another, 
instead  of  scratching  his  head  for  inspiration 
as  some  of  us  do,  he  would  scratch  various  por 
tions  of  his  anatomy  as  the  notion  struck  him, 
and  we  would  lay  bets  as  to  what  part  he 
would  scratch  next.  And  then  there  was  that 
man  in  English,  who  lectured  sitting  astride  of 
a  chair,  using  the  back  for  an  abdominal  sup 
porter.  Occasionally  he  would  turn  his  head 
and  spit,  which  you  must  admit  was  much  better 
than  to  spit  straight  ahead  at  the  audience. 

Well,  the  point  I  would  make  is,  that  any 
man  who  speaks  to  an  audience  composed  in 


34  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

part  of  women  will  take  the  attitude  that  is 
respectful  and  which  is  proper  for  a  speaker. 
He  will  then  be  teaching  manners  as  well  as 
his  regular  subject;  and  manners  must  never 
be  left  out  of  a  college  curriculum. 

But  about  Aunt  Marie  :  if  she  should  show 
up  at  college  again,  and  any  of  the  boys  happen 
to  treat  her  disrespectfully,  I  will  trust  to  you, 
Jack,  to  catch  him  on  the  point  of  the  jaw  with 
your  left.  If  he  does  not  apologize,  see  that 
he  is  well  ducked  in  Charles  River  —  you  can 
easily  get  enough  help.  But  I  guess  that  will 
not  be  necessary ;  the  boys  will  all  recognize 
her  goodness  under  the  big  bonnet,  vintage  of 
'23.  Yet  there  are  very  few  that  understand 
her  at  all.  I  think  I  know  her  greatness  better 
than  anyone  else. 

To  tell  you  confidentially,  Jack,  I  could  not 
have  made  this  trip  if  it  had  not  been  for  her. 
She  got  the  money  somewhere,  she  would  not 
tell  how ;  going  around,  I  suppose,  among  the 
neighbors  and  over  to  Maiden  —  and  she  would 
tackle  a  few  in  Boston,  too.  Thoreau  would 
help  her,  for  he  has  not  much  else  to  do,  and 
Alcott  would  borrow  a  dollar  to  put  in.  Never 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  35 

mind;  they  are  a  queer  lot,  ain't  they,  Jack? 
But  even  though  we  do  make  sport  of  them, 
we  know  their  virtues,  and  here's  to  all  those 
who  love  those  that  we  love. 

Hoping  you  will  pass  100  in  your  Greek, 
I  am, 

Ever  yours, 

ARTHUR. 

P.  S.  The  young  woman  that  you  spoke  of 
at  Alcott's  is  Miss  Honor  Harold.  I  saw  her 
several  times  at  the  Lyceum  —  hardly  thought 
she  would  remember  me. 

A.  R.  F. 


NUMBER   IX. 

ARTHUR  R.   FORBES  TO  MRS.   PRUDENCE  FORBES. 

Son  to  'mother.  As  requested,  describes  his 
symptoms.  The  mother-love  given  back  with 
interest.  "  Thoreau  and  Holworthy  will  look 
after  your  needs,  come  what  may" 

SHERMAN  HOUSE,  CHICAGO, 

April  12,  1851. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER:  — 

You  see  I  am  one  thousand  miles  from  you ; 
but  I  love  you  just  as  much,  as  if  \  were  writ' 


36  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

ing  this  in  our  sitting-room,  and  you  were  in 
the  kitchen,  and  the  door  between  was  open, 
and  you  were  busy  at  your  work,  singing, 
"Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul,  let  me  to  thy  bosom 
fly."  I  think  you  would  not  stay  long  here  if 
you  could  not  sing.  They  say  that  soldiers, 
on  the  march,  sing ;  and  they  sing  when  going 
into  battle.  Shepherds  sing  away  the  long 
hours  of  the  day  or  night.  And  you  know  the 
first  chorus  was  formed  in  the  country :  in 
fact,  the  word  chorus  means  country.  In  the 
country  it  is  sometimes  lonely,  and  so  "God 
sent  his  singers." 

I  am  sure  my  good  old  mother  gets  much  of 
her  courage,  fortitude  and  patience  through 
her  song.  It  sort  of  puts  her  into  close  rela 
tionship  with  the  "Over-soul,"  and  she  feels 
she  is  not  alone ;  that  God  is  near,  and  what 
cares  she,  though  the  north  winds  blow,  and 
her  big  boy  has  gone  off  to  make  his  fortune 
and  get  strong  ! 

You  were  so  anxious  to  have  me  write 
exactly  how  I  felt,  and  about  the  cough,  that  I 
will  comply,  lest  you  be  grieved  that  I  do  not 
follow  my  good  mother's  orders.  Well,  firstly, 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  37 

I  do  not  cough  quite  so  much,  but  I  lay  abed 
this  morning  quite  a  while,  dreading  to  get 
up,  knowing  the  coughing  would  begin  as 
soon  as  I  stood  on  my  feet.  I  have  used 
nearly  all  the  boneset  you  gave  me,  and 
have  some  of  the  cold  hop  tea  on  the  chair 
near  my  bed,  so  I  can  reach  out  and  get  it 
when  my  throat  gets  dry  and  parched,  in  the 
night. 

The  shooting  pains  through  my  left  shoulder- 
blade  are  not  so  bad,  but  I  still  have  those 
awful  dreams.  You  know  I  have  my  father's 
spirit,  and  fear  nothing  in  the  day-time;  but 
the  instant  I  fall  asleep  those  black,  leering 
forms  come  up,  and  I  often  awaken  with  a 
start,  all  in  a  cold  sweat,  and  lie  awake  hours, 
conjugating  the  Greek  verb  up  and  back,  down 
and  across,  before  I  can  go  to  sleep  again. 

It  looks  as  if  nature  was  afraid  to  sleep 
lest  she  forget  to  waken  ;  and  so,  last  night, 
I  got  up  and  dressed,  put  on  my  overcoat, 
and  sat  looking  out  of  the  window  for  two 
hours:  watching  the  stars  —  and  one  big  yel 
low  star,  in  particular,  which  was  right  off  over 
old  Middlesex  County.  I  listened  to  the  echo- 


38  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

ing  feet  of  the  belated  travelers  and  the  watch 
men,  as  they  trod  the  pavement  beneath  my 
window.  By  and  by  the  milk  wagons  began  to 
rattle  through  the  streets ;  the  stars  stole  to 
rest,  and  then  away  off  in  the  direction  of  Bos 
ton,  great  red  streaks  shot  up,  until  the  whole 
eastern  sky  was  aglow.  The  light  always  comes 
from  the  east,  you  know.  Then  I  undressed 
and  went  to  bed,  and  slept  pretty  nearly  as 
well  as  I  used  to,  up  in  our  little  garret.  I 
dreamed  that  that  big  light  in  the  east  would 
have  forgotten  to  appear,  had  I  not  watched 
for  it.  Now,  I  wonder,  after  all,  would  the 
sun  come  up  just  the  same  if  I  should  go 
hence  ? 

Despair  seems  to  clasp  me  in  his  leaden 
arms,  crushing  my  heart  in  his  embrace.  I  am 
so  tired  all  the  time,  dear  little  mother ;  some 
way  I  do  not  get  rested  as  I  should.  When  I 
get  up  in,  the  morning  I  am  more  tired  than 
when  I  went  to  bed.  My  limbs  ache  so,  and  I 
feel  sore  all  over.  I  think,  to-day,  that  if  I  had 
just  stayed  at  home  in  the  old  house,  with  my 
little  fidgety  sweetheart  mother,  and  rested — • 
rested  quietly,  and  let  you  take  care  of  me  — 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  39 

the  old-time  strength  would  soon  come  back. 
Yes  ;  it  is  rest  I  need  —  rest.  I  seem  to  have 
lost  my  will  power,  and  need  the  help  of  a 
stronger  and  clearer  mind  to  tell  me  just  what 
to  do. 

Do  you  think  it  would  be  very  weak  in  a 
man  six  feet  three,  to  acknowledge  he  was 
homesick  and  wanted  his  mother  ?  Well,  never 
mind,  you  will  not  tell  anyone ;  but  I  want 
my  mother  so  badly,  to-night,  that  I  could  cry  — 
and  perhaps  I  have,  a  little.  I  once  heard  a 
gray-haired  old  man  say  he  longed  to  leave 
this  earth  so  that  he  could  see  his  mother,  and 
I  guess  the  mother-love  ever  lingers  down  in  a 
man's  heart ;  so,  when  he  is  away  in  a  strange 
city  and  the  weather  is  cold  and  rainy,  and  he 
sits  alone  in  his  room  in  a  big,  bustling  hotel 
where  nobody  cares  for  him,  and  he  ain't  very 
well  —  his  head  is  hot  and  his  feet  cold — he 
just  wants  his  mother  to  come  and  bring  some 
hot  water  with  mustard  in  it,  so  he  can  warm 
his  feet.  She  will  put  her  hands  on  his  throb 
bing  head.  Her  form  may  be  bent  a  little,  and 
she  may  wear  spectacles  with  brass  rims  and 
her  hands  may  be  hard  and  calloused,  but  the 


40  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

touch  is  very  gentle  and  loving.  She  would 
help  him  undress  and  go  to  bed,  and  then  she 
would  tuck  the  warm  blankets  around  him  and 
kiss  his  forehead,  and  taking  up  the  candle 
would  move  off  quietly  down  the  stairs,  that 
might  creak  a  little ;  and  sweet  sleep  would 
come  stealing  in,  with  calm  rest  and  pleasant 
dreams. 

I  leave  for  St.  Louis  to-morrow,  and  if  you 
write  me  there  soon  after  you  get  this,  care  of 
the  Southern  Hotel,  I  will  get  it  before  I 
leave. 

If  you  need  anything,  in  any  way,  just  call 
on  Henry  Thoreau  or  write  to  John  Holworthy 
at  Cambridge.  I  had  a  quiet  chat  with  each 
before  I  left ;  so,  you  see,  my  wee,  white-haired 
sweetheart,  you  have  three  boys  instead  of 
one.  Affectionately, 

ARTHUR. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  41 

NUMBER  X. 

MRS.     PRUDENCE     FORBES     TO     ARTHUR     RIPLEY 
FORBES. 

Mrs.  Forbes  writes  to  her  son,  telling  him  of  her 
new  boarder  ;  of  household  and  family  affairs. 
Expresses  her  fears  as  to  his  spiritual  state, 
and  gives  earnest  advice  as  to  his  physical 
condition. 

[It  seems,  at  first  view,  almost  like  sacrilege 
to  put  in  cold  print  the  lavish  outpourings  of 
this  loving  mother's  heart. 

Living  for  many  years  a  life  of  ceaseless  toil 
in  a  sequestered  spot,  devoted  to  her  fam 
ily  and  household  affairs,  with  a  deep  religious 
feeling,  she  is  the  type  of  a  class  unhappily 
growing  rare.  Mr.  Emerson's  followers  were 
few  in  1851.  He  was  regarded  by  many  as  a 
"dangerous"  man.  In  this  and  other  ways, 
possibly,  this  good  woman's  faith  is  not  ours ; 
and,  while  some  may  not  agree  with  all  of  her 
opinions,  all  good  souls  will  certainly  most 
earnestly  respect  her  motives.  Let  no  man 
accuse  us  of  irreverence  in  reproducing  such 
tender  words ;  for,  if  we  smile,  it  is  in  love  and 
sympathy,  knowing  the  groundlessness  of  her 
fears. 

She  rests  from  her  labors  beneath  the  great 
pines  in  Sleepy  Hollow,  where  the  winds  make 
mournful  melody  among  the  branches ;  and 
over  the  moss-covered  mound  where  she  sleeps, 
I  strew  thyme  and  mignonette.  E.  H.j 


42  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

CONCORD,  April   18,   1851. 
MY  DEAR  BOY  :  — 

Your  letter  received.  Miss  Honor  Harold 
brought  it  from  the  post-office.  She  is  living 
with  me  now.  Since  you  went  away  it  is  so 
lonesome.  Even  when  you  were  at  Cambridge 
you  were  always  here  Sundays.  The  first 
Sunday  you  were  away  seemed  very  long. 
Henry  brought  Miss  Harold  here  and  intro 
duced  her.  He  thought  she  would  be  com 
pany  for  me.  It  is  so  noisy  down  at  the 
Alcotts.  They  talk  so  much  about  foolish 
things  that  nobody  knows  anything  about.  I 
know  Miss  Harold  will  like  it  here.  She  told 
me  to  call  her  Honor ;  but  she  is  so  tall  and  so 
smart,  I  told  her,  if  she  had  as  lief,  I  would  call 
her  Miss  Harold.  She  has  your  front  room. 
I  have  put  up  a  new  chintz  curtain,  and  put 
down  the  new  rag  carpet  that  I  had  woven  last 
year.  I  put  the  log-cabin  quilt  on  the  bed, 
and  the  one  with  the  pink  border  which  you 
liked  so  well.  She  is  a  very  likely  person,  I 
think ;  but  so  quiet  I  have  to  talk  all  the  time 
to  entertain  her,  when  she  is  down-stairs. 

We  got  eleven  eggs  yesterday,  and  I  have 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  43 

decided  to  set  the  speckled  hen,  and  also  the 
black  one,  that  came  here  of  herself  last  June. 

I  was  to  charge  Miss  Harold  three  dollars  a 
week,  which  will  help  quite  a  bit,  won't  it 
Arthur?  But  she  wipes  the  dishes  and  takes 
care  of  her-  own  room ;  so,  if  you  tell  me  that 
you  think  best,  I  will  make  it  $2.50,  for  she 
gets  her  dinner  twice  a  week  in  Boston.  She 
goes  tutoring  on  Beacon  Street,  to  some  rich 
family.  Write  me  if  you  think  $2.50  is 
enough,  or  shall  I  make  it  $2.75  ? 

It  is  very  kind  of  Henry  Thoreau  to  say  he 
will  look  after  me ;  but  you  know,  Arthur,  I  do 
not  like  him,  and  you  should  not  grieve  the 
only  mother  you  have  by  sending  him  here. 

He  treats  his  folks  well,  I  will  admit,  but  you 
know  he  never  goes  to  church  ;  and  one  Lord's 
day,  just  after  the  Doxology  was  sung,  and  we 
were  all  going  home  filled  with  the  spirit,  there 
walked  Henry  Thoreau,  right  through  the  vil 
lage,  with  a  tree  on  his  shoulder  that  he  had  dug 
up  somewhere.  He  was  taking  it  home  to  plant, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  he  dug  a  hole  and  planted 
it  that  Sabbath  afternoon.  O,  my  son,  how  can 
we  hope  to  escape,  when  we  desecrate  the  Sab- 


44  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

bath  ?  "  Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep 
it  holy,"  Arthur,  and  shun  those  evil  compan 
ions. 

Mr.  Emerson,  I  know,  is  a  very  nice  man  — 
so  civil  and  gentle  like.  He  always  shakes 
hands  with  me  on  the  street,  and  says,  "A 
woman  who  has  a  boy  like  you  should  be  very 
happy."  But,  oh,  my  son,  good  works  will  not 
save  us;  and  a  man  who  rejects  my  Saviour, 
who  died  for  us  on  the  cross,  cannot  be  a  good 
man  at  heart.  See  how  his  example  has 
affected  so  many  of  the  young  people  in  Mid 
dlesex  County !  And  I  believe  Henry  Thoreau 
would  not  be  a  Sabbath-breaker,  were  it  not  for 
him. 

Only  by  the  blood  of  Jesus  can  we  hope 
to  escape,  and  how  I  long  to  hear  that  my  only 
son  has  accepted  his  Redeemer ! 

"  There  is  a  time,  we  know  not  when, 

A  place,  we  know  not  where, 
That  marks  the  destiny  of  men, 
To  glory  or  despair." 

O !  my  son,  if  you  could  have  heard  the 
fervent  appeals  that  went  up  to  the  Throne  of 
Grace  for  you,  last  Wednesday  night,  at  the 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  45 

prayer  meeting  at  Deacon  Palmer's,  I  know 
your  stubborn  heart  would  have  been  touched ; 
and  you  would  turn  and  live.  I  never 
heard  Elder  Fisher  wax  so  powerful.  As 
he  prayed,  the  tears  ran  down  his  whiskers. 
It  was  a  time  of  deep  feeling.  I  had  given  in 
your  name,  and  all  who  took  part  prayed  for 
"the  young  man  who  seemed  stricken  by  the 
hand  of  death,  and  whose  mother  might  be  left 
alone  in  her  old  age,  desolate."  I  know  our 
prayers  will  be  heard,  Arthur;  and,  while  the 
light  of  His  countenance  seems  withheld  for  a 
time,  we  must  remember  that  "Whom  the 
Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth."  "Blessed  are 
they  that  mourn,  for  they  shall  be  comforted." 
Throw  away  those  infidel  essays  of  Emerson 
and  read  your  Bible.  Mr.  Emerson's  mother 
never  taught  him  these  untrue  things.  Of 
course,  many  things  he  says,  are  so  —  we  all 
know  that.  But  there  is  poison  in  it ;  and, 
although  bread  is  good,  you  would  not  eat  it  if 
there  was  poison  in  it,  would  you  ?  No  !  And 
so  you  cannot  read  those  infidel  books  without 
being  contaminated.  There  are  only  two  ways, 
my  son :  the  right,  and  the  wrong.  If  you 


46  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

reject  your  Saviour  you  are  lost,  no  matter  how 
many  beautiful  things  you  may  say  about 
woods  and  flowers  and  sunshine,  and  stars 
and  streams,  and  meadows,  and  all  such 
foolishness. 

"  He  that  believeth  ahd  is  baptized  shall  be 
saved ;  but  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be 
damned."  (Mark  xvi,  16.) 

Take  the  powders  Dr.  Peabody  gave  you 
regularly,  and  make  a  tea  of  the  herbs  which  I 
send  in  the  blue  paper,  and  take  a  table-spoon- 

« 

ful  every  hour,  without  fail.  The  doctor  says 
you  should  take  the  pills  in  the  wooden  box 
before  each  meal,  and  four  of  those  in  the  tin 
box  before  you  go  to  bed  every  night. 

Miss  Harold  read  your  letter  to  me,  as  my 
glasses  were  up-stairs.  I  guess  they  do  not 
pay  much  attention  to  writing  at  Harvard,  for 
you  are  like  your  father  :  he  never  could  write 
so  anyone  could  read  it.  But  she  read  your 
letter  right  straight  along,  in  such  a  low,  sweet 
voice.  I  sat  and  rocked  in  the  splint  chair 
you  made.  When  she  got  through,  I  asked  her 
if  it  was  not  the  most  beautiful  letter  she  ever 
read.  She  looked  at  me  with  her  great  big 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  47 

eyes,  and  seemed  so  awful  sad.  Then  she 
looked  out  of  the  window  over  toward  the 
hills,  and  sat  there  until  I  had  to  tell  her 
twice  that  the  tea  was  drawed.  I  don't  think 
she  heard  my  question  ;  she  seems  a  trifle  hard 
of  hearing  or  absent  minded,  or  something.  I 
often  have  to  say  the  same  thing  over.  If  it  is 
something  wrong  with  her  ears,  I  will  take  her 
over  to  Dr.  Peabody's.  You  know  he  is  first- 
rate  on  ears.  He  cured  your  pa,  once,  of  a  bad 
attack  of  one  ear.  I  insisted  that  he  should  go 
to  the  doctor ;  but  he  kept  putting  it  off,  and 
putting  it  off.  And  one  day  I  just  put  on  my 
bonnet  and  shawl  and  said,  very  firm-like, 
"James,  we  will  go  to  the  doctor's"  —  and  we 
went.  The  doctor  said  if  we  had  put  it  off 
another  day  the  case  would  have  been  hopeless. 

Please  read  St.  Mark  viii,  36,  and  St.  John 
vii,  15-24. 

I  will  send  the  medicine  by  express,  care  of 
Southern  Tavern,  and  put  in  the  blue  woolen 
stockings  which  I  just  heeled  off. 

Miss  Harold  read  my  chapter  to  me  last 
night.  I  asked  her  to  pray,  as  something  was 
the  matter  with  my  throat,  She  just  repeated 


48  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

the  Lord's  prayer,  and  I  joined  her.  I  am  sure 
that  she  is  a  believer,  although  she  has  never 
told  me  so. 

I  like  to  hear  her  read,  and  sit  and  rock, 
and  close  my  eyes  and  listen,  just  as  when 
you  used  to  read  to  me  after  you  did  the 
chores,  and  we  had  had  tea  and  put  the  things 
away. 

I  hope  I  haven't  said  anything  that  sounds 
like  scolding  in  this  letter,  for  you  know  I  am 
thankful  for  such  a  dutiful  son.  My  con 
stant  prayer  is,  that  he  may  be  a  God-fearing 
man. 

I  put  the  box  of  pills  in  one  of  the  stockings, 
so  they  would  not  get  stolen.  You  don't  know 
who  you  can  trust  nowadays. 

Yours  truly, 

P.  FORBES. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  49 

NUMBER  XI. 
Miss  HONOR  HAROLD  TO  Miss  MEREDITH. 

Miss  Harold  suggests  a  plan  for  the  bettering 
of  Mr.  Forbes"  condition. 

BOSTON,  April  16,  1851. 
DEAR  Miss  MEREDITH:  — 

I  know  all  about  your  getting  the  money  for 
Mr.  Forbes,  so  he  could  start  West.  I  also 
know  of  the  purse  you  put  in  his  mother's 
hands,  so  that  he  would  know  that  she  was 
provided  for  during  his  absence.  But  I  think 
it  would  be  well  if  we  could  arrange  matters  so 
that  Mr.  Forbes  will  have  employment  on  the 
overland  trip.  If  he  goes  as  a  mere  passenger, 
it  will  take  considerable  of  his  money  to  pay 
expenses;  and,  worse  than  this,  his  mind  will 
be  on  his  condition  and  on  his  own  affairs. 
Independence  is  hygienic. 

I  think  I  have  a  plan  whereby,  with  your 
help,  Mr.  Forbes  can  be  benefited.  Meet  me 
at  the  Concord  station  for  the  7.40  train  to 
morrow  morning  —  we  will  go  down  to  Cam 
bridge  and  I  will  tell  you  my  plans  on  the  way. 


50  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

To  give  you  a  hint  now,  let  me  say,  we  must 
secure  letters  from  certain  dignitaries  there,  to 
a  man  known  to  me  by  reputation,  in  St.  Louis, 
insisting  that  Mr.  Forbes  be  given  employ 
ment.  When  you  touch  the  right  spring,  the 
door  always  flies  open. 

Sincerely, 

HONOR  HAROLD. 


NUMBER  XII. 
Miss  MARIE  MEREDITH  TO  Miss  HAROLD. 

Miss  Meredith  promises  her  support.  —  Takes 
occasion  to  give  her  opinion  of  men,  boys,  and 
college  professors. 

CONCORD,  April  16,  1851. 
DEAR  GIRLIE  :  — 

Just  let  me  throw  my  arms  around  your 
neck,  Honor  Bright,  and  kiss  your  peachblow 
cheek  for  the  note  just  received.  I  must 
answer  at  once,  and  will  send  this  letter  down 
by  Grimes'  red-headed  boy;  so,  if  you  do  not 
get  it,  you  will  know  the  rascal  has  dropped  it 
off  the  bridge  into. the  river  —  just  to  see  it 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  51 

float  down  stream,  as  he  did  with  one  of  my  let 
ters  once  before.  If  there  is  anything  more 
untrustworthy  than  a  man,  it  is  a  boy.  Thank 
the  Lord !  I  have  no  use  for  either,  and  Provi 
dence  has  protected  me  from  both  ;  except  for 
a  couple  of  days  each  spring,  when  the  garden 
must  be  spaded  —  and  then  they  always  dig 
where  they  ought  not,  and  leave  undigged 
where  they  should  have  dug. 

I  know  Arthur  should  have  work  on  the 
overland  trip;  but  how  could  I,  a  poor  old 
maid,  help  him  get  it  ?  /  don't  know  anyone 
at  St.  Louis.  I  talked  with  Arthur  about  this, 
and  he  said  he  thought  it  was  hopeless  :  as 
there  are  so  many  strong  and  experienced 
young  men  going  West,  who  are  anxious  to 
work  to  pay  their  way,  and  of  course  no  one 
would  hire  an  invalid,  anyway. 

He  said  if  he  could  only  get  strong,  then  he 
would  find  work  at  something.  He  seemed  a 
little  disappointed,  though,  about  the  pros 
pect  ;  for  a  young  lawyer's  education  is  not 
such  as  to  fit  him  for  handling  a  pickax 
gracefully. 

Of  course  I  will  be  at  the  train  in  the  morn- 


52  FORBES  OP  HARVARD. 

ing  if  rheumatism  does  not  positively  forbid. 
I  went  down  to  Cambridge  once,  and  brought 
them  to  time,  and  am  not  afraid  to  go  again ; 
although  a  woman  does  not  stand  much  show 
at  Harvard.  Cambridge  is  made  up  of  stu 
dents,  professors,  philistines  and  cattle.  The 
students  are  all  right,  even  if  they  do  traverse 
the  sidewalks  four  abreast ;  let  the  philistines 
grow  rich  by  having  their  wives  keep  boarders, 
or  wax  wise  on  picked-up  scraps  of  'Varsity 
lore ;  and  I  am  willing  the  cattle  should  chew 
the  contemplative  cud  in  peace ;  but  if  all  the 
professors  should  go  up  to  Lynn  on  a  picnic, 
they  would  surely  run  down  a  steep  place  into 
the  sea  and  be  drowned. 

"Women  lack  the  ability  for  consecutive 
application  and  are  wholly  wanting  in  literary, 
analytical  power,"  said  Professor  Walker.  "  But, 
thank  the  Lord!"  said  I,  "we  do  not  apply 
ourselves  consecutively  and  analytically  to 
smoking  and  chewing.  Neither  do  we  have  the 
ability  to  support  the  saloons.  Yes,  it  is  true, 
we  lack  ability  —  you  men  have  it.  You  fill 
the  colleges  —  and  the  jails  and  penitentaries, 
as  well — and  after  awhile  you  will  all  go  to  a 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  53 

very  warm  place  that  is  filled  with  nothing  but 
men."  I  think  Professor  Walker  will  not 
argue  equal  rights  with  me  again.  But  we  will 
call  on  him  to-morrow,  and  I  rather  guess  he 
will  treat  us  civilly.  If  you  want  any  of  those 
fool  professors  to  address  your  influential  man 
in  St.  Louis,  about  getting  Arthur  work,  you 
must  write  out  the  letter  and  simply  have  them 
sign  it.  You  do  not  know  men,  my  child  — 
they  blunder  and  mix  up  everything  they  touch. 
I  do  not  know  why  God  made  them  !  Where 
there  is  important  work  to  do,  it  is  always  nec 
essary  to  call  on  a  woman.  To-morrow,  at  the 
7.40  —  Providence  and  rheumatism  permitting. 
If  I  am  not  there,  go  alone  —  I  will  trust  you. 
Yours  lovingly, 

MARIE  MEREDITH. 


54  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  XIII. 

PROF.  JARED  SPARKS  TO  COL.  H.  C.  BALCOM. 

Jared  Sparks,  President  of  Harvard,  requests 
that  employment  be  given  to  Mr.  Forbes. 
This  letter  evidently  a  result  of  the  trip 
mentioned  in  previous  letter. 

HARVARD  UNIVERSITY,  CAMBRIDGE,  MASS., 

April  17,  1851. 
To  COL.  H.  C.  BALCOM. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  I  write  you  this  letter  on  a 
matter  that  is  of  vital  importance  to  several 
parties  concerned.  You  never  failed  me  when 
within  the  bounds  of  "Fair  Harvard,"  and  I 
know  you  will  not  now.  What  I  desire  is 
simply  this:  Mr.  Arthur  R.  Forbes,  '52,  will 
call  on  you  very  soon ;  I  want  you  to  get  him 
a  position  in  an  overland  train  for  California, 
in  any  capacity  where  he  can  let  his  services 
pay  his  way.  He  is  a  rare  soul;  a  little 
depressed  physically  —  but  I  need  not  explain 
further.  When  you  see  him,  your  good 
common-sense  will  tell  you  what  is  wanted, 
and  then  I  know  you  will  do  it 

Sincerely  yours,         JARED  SPARKS. 

I  concur  in  the  above  request. 

JAS.  WALKER, 


FORBES  OF  HAR  VARD.  55 

NUMBER  XIV. 

DR.     OLIVER    WENDELL    HOLMES    TO    COL.     H.     C. 
BALCOM. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  MEDICINE, 
HARVARD  COLLEGE, 

BOSTON,  April  17,  1851. 
MY  DEAR  ALUMNUS  :  — 

I  write  to  say  that  you  will  be  favored  with 
a  call,  within  a  few  days,  from  Mr.  Arthur 
Forbes,  class  of  '52,  as  fine  a  young  man  as 
ever  wrestled  with  a  Greek  verb.  He  is 
making  an  overland  trip  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health,  and  I  am  anxious  he  should  have 
employment  on  the  way,  instead  of  going  as  a 
passenger.  We  all  need  work,  as  you  have 
often  heard  me  say;  and  those  who  are  ill 
should  have  right  mental  occupation,  in  order 
that  nature  may  heal.  Put  Forbes  in  some 
where,  so  he  will  think  he  is  useful,  and  I  am 
always  your  debtor. 

We  are  all  glad  to  hear  of  your  promotion, 
and  on  each  Commencement  Anniversary  you 
must  wear  the  crimson  tied  to  a  shining  button 
on  your  manly  breast. 

Fraternally  yours,       O.  W.  HOLMES. 


56  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  XV. 

MISS    HONOR    HAROLD    TO    ARTHUR    RIPLEY 
FORBES. 

Miss  Harold  writes  her  first  letter  to  Mr,  Forbes. 
Gives  advice  at  variance  from  what  he  has 
received  from  others. 

[This  letter  was  as  much  of  a  surprise  to  me 
as  it  doubtless  was  to  Mr.  Forbes. 

By  chance,  I  read  the  various  other  letters 
written  by  Miss  Harold,  herein  published, 
before  I  read  this.  My  estimate  of  the  young 
lady  was  that  she  possessed  a  mind  of  rare 
discrimination,  clear  insight  and  the  delicate, 
subtle  intuition  which  is  found  only  in  women 
of  the  highest  type;  animated,  yet  reserved; 
modest,  but  not  prudish ;  thoroughly  kind ; 
always  gentle,  considerate,  sympathetic  and 
appreciative ;  never  indulging  in  the  abuse 
of  the  superlative  or  asserting  herself  bluntly 
and  arbitrarily. 

The  abrupt  manner  of  this  letter,  I  now 
believe,  was  caused  by  the  thought  that  Forbes' 
condition  was  extremely  critical ;  that  hope  was 
reduced  to  a  feeble,  fitful  flame ;  and  this  exer 
cise  of  will,  on  her  part,  was  only  meant  to 
arouse  him  until  he  could  get  into  a  position 
where  nature's  healing  forces  could  act.  In  the 
quiet  village  she  had  heard  much  of  Forbes,  and 
his  many  manly  traits  had  appealed  to  her.  The 
letter  written  to  his  mother,  which  she  had 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  57 

read,  had  thoroughly  enlisted  her  sympathies. 
Her  motives  were  purely  disinterested ;  and 
that  she  showed  the  rare  good  sense  which  only 
a  woman  possesses,  in  thus  securing  employ 
ment  for  Mr.  Forbes,  is  very  evident. 

There  may  be  those  who  have  traveled  fur 
ther  into  the  realm  of  romance  than  I,  who 
will  say  that  Forbes  and  this  woman  had  met 
and  loved.  Eyes  had  looked  into  eyes,  heart 
had  responded  to  heart,  soul  spoken  to  soul ;  and 
that  she  should  thus  interest  herself  in  his  wel 
fare  was  the  most  natural  thing  on  earth. 
That  he  looked  for  this  letter  —  longed  for  it  — 
and,  when  it  came,  it  caused  his  heart  to  leap 
with  joy;  and,  in  thus  receiving  a  letter  written 
by  her  he  loved,  the  satisfaction  was  curative. 
Perhaps  these  metaphysicians  have  as  good  a 
right  to  their  theories  as  those  who  differ  from 
them.  It  is  not  for  me  to  stand  arbiter;  I 
merely  record  the  facts  as  they  appear.] 

ON    CARS    BETWEEN    CONCORD    AND    BOSTON, 

April  1 8,  8.15  A.  M. 
MR.  ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES:  — 

I  make  no  apology  for  addressing  you,  and 
writing  on  this  scrap  of  paper  with  a  lead  pen 
cil.  It  is  necessary  for  me  to  explain,  however, 
that  I  am  at  present  boarding  with  your 
mother;  and,  for  fear  you  will  not  recollect  me, 
let  me  say,  that  I  formerly  lived  with  the  fam 
ily  of  Mr.  Bronson  Alcott,  and  had  the  pleasure 


58  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

of  seeing  you  at  Mr.  Alcott's,  on  two  different 
occasions. 

I  am  aware  that  your  physical  difficulty 
began  with  the  boat  race,  last  June ;  when  the 
collision  occurred,  and  you  were  in  the  water  so 
long,  rescuing  the  men.  But  I  bring  you  good 
news,  and  I  know  whereof  I  speak.  You  are 
to  get  well — stronger  than  ever;  and  your 
health  will  come  flowing  back  from  the  very 
instant  you  read  these  lines. 

The  tide  runs  out  until  it  looks  as  if  Charles 
River  would  be  emptied ;  but  by  and  by  it 
turns,  and  great  ships  of  war  come  floating 
in  —  clear  up  to  Mt.  Auburn.  Have  you  not 
seen  them  ?  But  with  this  difference  in  the 
simile :  the  tide  of  health  that  is  now  setting 
toward  you,  will  not  ebb.  Tides  act  according 
to  the  law  of  nature,  which  is  the  law  of  God. 
What  strength  there  must  be  in  a  force  set  in 
motion  by  the  Infinite!  He  is  our  strength, 
and  when  you  read  this,  say  to  yourself,  over 
and  over  —  "He  who  causes  the  tides  of  the 

sea  is  my  strength."     He  himself  has  said  His 

« 
work  was  very  good ;  and   I   know  it   is   His 

desire  that  a  strong,  athletic  young  man  should 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  59 

become  a  stronger  one,  and  evolve  into  a  man 
of  wisdom,  and  thus  reflect  back  somewhat  of 
the  goodness  of  his  Creator,  in  whose  likeness 
man  was  made. 

Now,  hold  constantly  in-  your  mind  these 
thoughts.  Forget  the  pills  and  powders ; 
throw  them  away,  if  you  please,  but  not  into 
the  Missouri  River  —  for  I  heard  you  say,  the 
last  evening  I  saw  you,  that  one  of  your  pro 
fessors  had  remarked,  "If  all  the  medicine  in 
the  world  was  thrown  into  the  sea  it  would 
be  a  good  thing  for  mankind,  but  bad  for 
the  fishes."  Just  forget  all  about  yourself, 
and  forget  the  medicine,  and  remember  that 
drugs  have  no  power  to  impart  life ;  all  life  is 
from  God.  You  are  God's  child  —  you  are  in 
God's  hand.  Hold  firmly  this  truth,  and  your 
life  and  strength  will  all  come  back. 

By  the  way,  Col.  H.  C.  Balcom,  79  Front 
Street,  St.  Louis,  has  an  important  message  for 
you ;  please  see  him  at  once. 

You  need  not  write  to  me,  for  I  shall  see  the 
letters  you  send  to  your  mother.  The  tide  is 

coming  in. 

Very  respectfully, 

HONOR  HAROLD. 


60  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  XVI. 

JOHN    HOLWORTHY    TO    ARTHUR    R.    FORBES. 

The  visit  of  Misses  Harold  and  Meredith  to 
Harvard  is  graphically  described.  It  causes 
very  peculiar  psychic  disturbances  in  Mr. 
Holworthy  s  atmosphere. 

HARVARD  UNIVERSITY, 

CAMBRIDGE,  April  19. 
DEAR  OLD  CHUM  :  — 

My  pulse  has  been  eighty-eight  for  a  week, 
temperature  five  above  normal.  Cause  why, 
old  man  ? 

Well,  Bridges  has  gone  to  a  powwow,  and  I 
will  pull  down  the  blinds,  look  under  the  bed 
and  behind  the  door,  then  I  will  turn  the  key 
in  the  lock,  and  tell  you  all  about  it. 

The  Iris  came  down,  Wednesday,  with  your 
Aunt  Marie  —  must  have  left  Concord  on  the 
7.40.  They  walked  down  North  Avenue  and  I 
saw  them  first  as  they  were  going  through  the 
west  gate,  and  the  left  ventricle  of  my  heart 
seemed  to  fill  and  stay  there.  Skin  became 
warm,  moist,  and  suffused.  Then  cold ;  and 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  61 

Bridges  said  he  thought  coma  would  follow, 
with  rigor-mortis  in  due  time.  But  I  soon  got 
all  right.  They  went  straight  to  Sparks' 
office,  as  I  saw  positively;  for  I  had  business 
over  that  way  about  the  same  time.  They 
stayed,  say  five  minutes,  and  came  out  very 
smiling,  old  Sparks  walking  with  them  nearly 
to  Boylston,  bare-headed.  So  I  am  sure  he 
did  not  bluff  them ;  and  whatever  it  was  they 
tackled  him  for,  they  got  —  and  if  they  had 
nailed  me,  I  am  sure  I  would  have  signed  away 
everything,  down  to  the  prospective  M.  D., 
if  only  those  blue  eyes  had  looked  into  mine. 

Her  whole  figure  seemed  enveloped  in  an 
atmosphere  of  ethereal  sweetness — the  spirit 
of  dreamland,  with  all  its  serene  blissfulness, 
covered  her  round. 

They  went  on  toward  Dane,  and  I  followed 
after.  I  thought  I  had  lost  them  there ;  and, 
although  it  lacked  twenty-five  minutes  of  time 
for  the  lecture,  I  went  in  and  waited.  And, 
old  man,  my  heart  failed  to  contract,  or  some 
thing;  I  grew  purple  in  the  face  —  for,  as  I 
live,  when  I  went  into  the  lecture  room  there 
they  were.  And  she  came  right  up  to  me  and 


62  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

held  out  the  prettiest  hand  I  ever  saw;  not 
small,  and  not  large,  but  long  tapering  fingers. 
And  so  alive,  odorous,  soft,  lovable,  and  so  sen 
sitive  was  that  hand,  that  I  felt  a  thrill  clear 
through  me,  as  I  touched  her  finger-tips.  I 
would  have  fallen  had  not  Aunt  Marie  asked, 
"How's  your  mother  and  your  sister  and  your 
uncle  when  you  last  heard  from  home  —  and 
all  the  folks  ?  "  I  recovered  my  breath  enough 
to  say  it  was  a  fine  day,  and  that  it  looked  like 
rain  —  and  got  them  a  couple  of  chairs.  They 
wanted  to  see  Dr.  Holmes  (he  is  giving  the 
course  in  Physiology  this  year),  and  said  they 
would  wait  for  him.  Aunt  Marie  took  out  her 
knitting,  and  whacked  away  at  a  white  stocking 
which  was  about  two  feet  long  ;  and,  as  the  boys 
came  strolling  in,  the  stocking  caught  their 
eye.  Aunt  Marie  knitted  as  if  the  success  of 
Harvard  depended  on  her  getting  the  toe  of 
that  stocking  finished  in  ten  minutes.  The 
needles  flew,  the  ball  rolled  down  under  the 
benches  ;  and  she  called  to  a  Senior —  "  Sonny, 
crawl  under  the  benches  and  bring  that  ball 
back."  Then  the  boys,  who  had  been  pretend 
ing  not  to  know  we  were  there,  just  roared. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  63 

How  they  did  look  over  at  us,  as  I  stood 
talking  to  her!  She  would  look  up  at  me, 
once  in  a  while,  and  say,  "That  is  true,"  and 
smile  or  nod  assent  to  what  I  said.  But  she 
did  not  have  much  to  say  herself.  I  made  a  fool 
of  myself,  old  chum.  I  talked  like  a  windmill, 
about  everything  and  nothing  —  of  art,  the 
weather,  poetry,  Spitz  dogs,  education,  John 
Ruskin,  and  baked  beans  as  an  inspirer  of 
the  poetic  fancy. 

I  know  she  hates  me ;  yet,  when  she 
went  away,  she  reached  out  the  same 
pretty  hand,  with  the  long  tapering  fin 
gers  and  the  thrilling  warm  touch.  They 
talked  with  Dr.  Holmes  only  a  minute,  and 
he  signed  some  sort  of  a  paper  they  had. 
He  is  always  very  polite  and  gracious,  you 
know,  and  he  seemed  this  time  more  so  than 
ever.  He  treated  your  aunt  as  if  she  was  the 
Queen  of  Spain,  and  of  the  Netherlands 
besides.  She  wasn't  the  queen,  though  —  it  was 
the  other.  You  never  saw  her,  I  guess  :  tall, 
slender,  and  full  a  head  above  Aunt  Marie. 
Wore  some  sort  of  a  blue  dress ;  was  so  stately, 
dignified,  and  so  knowing,  although  she  did 


64  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

not  say  much.  Just  listened,  smiled  a  little, 
now  and  then,  and  looked  at  me  with  her 
big  blue  eyes.  The  finest  teeth  I  ever  saw! 
Hair,  not  exactly  blonde;  auburn,  perhaps. 
No,  not  that  —  one  lock  I  saw  looked  as  if  the 
sun  was  shining  on  it  —  and  all  was  wavy  ;  sort 
of  a  coil  on  top,  I  thought,  although  her  bonnet 
covered  it.  But  come  and  kick  me,  old  man, 
for  being  a  fool  and  not  talking  sensibly  to  a 
splendid  woman  who  knows  more  than  all  the 
books  in  Gore  Hall.  Talk  about  admitting 
women  to  Harvard!  Don't  you  think  it  pos 
sible  that  they  may,  some  day?  As  I  am  a 
sinner,  I  would  die,  gladly,  if  she  was  sick  and 
a  transfusion  of  my  blood  would  cure  her ;  she 
should  have  my  last  corpuscle,  red  or  white. 
Yes,  old  man,  I'd  bare  my  neck  and  let  them 
stick  a  scalpel  chuck  into  my  jugular,  if  it 
would  benefit  her. 

But  about  admitting  women  to  colleges : 
how  I  would  like  to  hold  the  ladder  and  help 
her  over  the  Harvard  wall.  Better  still,  old 
man  —  better,  a  thousand  times  —  if  she  was  in 
Harvard  and  willing  to  leave,  I  would  help  her 
over  the  wall  and  out.  Keep  the  room  alone, 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  65 

Bridges !  You  can  have  my  books.  Good 
bye,  sheepskin  and  the  M.  D. —  I  want  you  not. 
Over  the  fence  is  out  —  "me  and  she." 

JACK. 


NUMBER  XVII. 

ARTHUR  R.  FORBES  TO  MRS.  PRUDENCE  FORBES. 

Col.  Balcom  takes  an  interest  in  our  heros 
welfare.  Fashionable  raiment  packed  away; 
army  trousers,  flannel  shirt,  boots  and  som 
brero  take  their  place.  No  use  for  umbrellas. 
"  The  sun  coming  otit  and  the  tide  coaming  in" 

ST.  Louis  Mo.,  April  25. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER:  — 

I  am  born  into  a  new  world ;  and,  if  you  could 
gaze  on  me  as  I  write,  I  am  sure  you  would 
disown  me.  Let  me  tell  you  how  it  has  come 
about.  Monday  morning  I  received  a  call  from 
Col.  Balcom,  class  of  '46.  How  he  knew  I 
was  here,  I  cannot  imagine.  Possibly  he  saw 
my  name  in  the  list  of  the  hotel  arrivals ;  but 
even  this  would  not  explain  it.  How  did  he 
know  that  I  was  a  Harvard  man  ?  Well,  never 
mind  —  he  sent  his  card  up  to  my  room,  and 


66  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

then  followed  it  himself,  without  waiting  to 
see  if  I  was-  at  home.  As  I  glanced  at  his 
jaunty  blue  jacket,  top  boots,  and  brass  but 
tons,  I  thought  that  he  had  come  to  arrest 
me  for  running  away  from  home ;  for  I  knew 
not  a  soul  in  St.  Louis,  and  why  should 
this  sprightly,  manly  fellow  in  blue,  with  a 
big  pistol  stuck  through  his  belt,  want  to 
see  a  sick  man  from  Concord  ?  His  waxed 
mustache  looked  very  fierce,  as  he  asked,  "Are 
you  Forbes  "52?"  None  but  a  college  man 
ever  uses  such  an  expression  as  that,  and  I 
smiled  and  said,  "Yes;  what  class  are  you?" 
He  smiled,  too,  and  said,  "'46,  without  honors, 
and  only  by  hard  cramming  and  cribbing,  at 
that !  Forbes,"  he  continued,  without  stopping 
for  breath,  "  I  want  a  man  to  take  a  place  as 
driver  in  a  wagon  train  which  starts  for  the 
Rockies  to-morrow;  pay,  eight  dollars  per 
month,  and  found  —  where  can  I  find  him?" 
"I  am  the  man,"  said  I.  "Be  at  the  barracks 
in  an  hour.  The  address  is  on  my  card." 
And  he  whirled  on  his  heel,  gave  a  jerking 
military  salute  and  was  gone. 

It  seems  too  good  to  be  true.     Here  I  have 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  67 

been  fretting  about  what  I  should  do  —  was 
afraid  I  could  not  get  a  place  as  passenger, 
even  by  paying  high  for  the  privilege  —  and,  on 
my  first  day  in  St.  Louis,  the  mountain  comes 
to  Mahomet.  "Eight  dollars  a  month,  and 
found."  Now,  I  propose  to  save  my  money, 
and  when  I  have  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  — 
Let's  see!  _  "Eight  dollars  per  month,  and 
found."  But  what  is  to  be  "found,"  and  where 
do  we  find  it  ?  I  suppose  I  will  find  out 
to-morrow. 

Well,  mother,  dear,  I  went  down  to  the  bar 
racks  ;  which  is  only  a  big  warehouse  on  the 
river  front,  all  piled  full  of  cotton,  rope,  tents, 
and  what  not.  A  flag  was  flying  in  front,  and 
two  cannons  were  planted  for  hitching  posts  at 
the  door. 

I  found  Col.  Balcom  in  an  office  partitioned 
off  in  one  corner,  about  the  busiest  man  in  St. 
Louis.  He  was  signing  orders,  and  giving 
directions  about  the  wagons.  Goods  were 
being  unloaded,  and  reported,  and  we  had  no 
time  to  visit.  "  No  time  even  to  give  the  col 
lege  yell,  have  we,  Forbes?"  said  he.  Then, 
looking  me  over,  "  You  are  well  dressed.  Your 


68  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

suit  was  made  in  Bromfield  Street;  and  you 
got  your  necktie  and  the  linen  shirt  with  the 
high  collar  at  the  store  under  .the  Tremont 
House.  Yes,  I  have  bought  stacks  of  trump 
ery  there,  too." 

"Here,  Joe,"  he  called,  to  a  smart-looking 
mulatto;  "go  over  to  the  Southern,  pay  Mr. 
Forbes'  bill  and  bring  all  his  baggage  here."  I 
endeavored  to  protest,  but  he  waived  me  off  by 
saying,  "O,  yes,  I  know;  he  can  pack  your 
things  all  right  —  better  than  you  can 
yourself." 

The  young  colored  man  soon  returned  with 
my  trunk,  and  Balcom  smiled  at  the  size  of  it. 
"You  must  leave  this  with  me.  Now  come 
up-stairs,  and  we  will  select  you  a  suit." 
We  went  into  a  room  filled  with  the  odor  of 
tar;  where,  piled  all  around  on  the  shelves, 
were  stacks  of  clothing.  Balcom  picked  me 
out  a  heavy,  coarse  flannel  shirt,  and  said, 
"  Lively,  now  !  There  are  twelve  men  waiting 
for  me  down-stairs.  Get  into  this,  quick! 
Now,  then;  try  on  these  trousers!  —  There! 
They  do  not  look  so  bad.  Now,  these  boots  !  " 
I  put  on  the  boots  and  they  seemed  to  weigh 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 


ten  pounds  apiece.  "With  the  help  of  woolen 
stockings  like  these,  your  feet  will  keep  warm," 
he  said. 

"Oh,  get  out!"  answered  Balcom,  "you 
don't  need  any  suspenders  !  "  And  he  buckled 
around  my  waist  a  leather  belt,  stuck  two 
pistols  through  it,  and  said,  "Mind  you  don't 
load  these  for  at  least  a  week.  I'll  bet  you 
never  shot  one  off.  Some  of  the  boys  will 
show  you  how  they  work.  Now,  get  into  this 
jacket ! "  It  was  too  small ;  so  he  hunted 
around  for  another,  and  finally  got  one  with 
sleeves  long  enough.  "Now,  a  hat!"  And 
he  took  down  a  seven  and  a  quarter  white  hat, 
such  as  you  never  saw  in  all  your  life  —  the 
brim  looks  two  feet  wide,  and  there  is  a  strap 
around  it  for  a  band. 

"  How  much  money  have  you  ? "  said  he. 
"Two  hundred  dollars?  Well,  there  is  a 
pocket  in  your  shirt ;  sew  it  in  to-night.  Yes ; 
take  your  watch.  Tie  this  big  handkerchief 
around  your  neck.  Put  all  those  clothes  in 
your  trunk ;  then  lock  the  trunk,  and  Joe  will 
seal  it  and  give  you  a  receipt."  "But,"  said 
I,  "I  must  have  a  change  of  underclothing." 


70  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

"Nonsense,"  said  he;  "do  you  suppose  we  run 
this  wagon  train  to  carry  baggage  for  you 
teamsters  ?  All  you  want,  now,  is  one  of 
those  long  oilskin  overcoats  for  bad  weather ; 
a  rubber  blanket,  and  a  woolen  one,  which  you 
can  pick  out  for  yourself.  Come  around  to 
the  office  at  six  o'clock,  and  we'll  get  sup 
per."  The  colonel  jerked  me  a  salute  and  dis 
appeared,  while  Joe  and  I  repacked  my  trunk. 
"Can't  I  take  my  umbrella?"  Tasked  of  the 
negro.  "No,  sah ;  I  reckon  you  bettah  do  as 
marse  de  kunnel  say,  or  he  chuck  you  in  de 
gyard  house,  an'  make  you  pack  a  fence  rail 
all  de  nex'  day,  You  musn't  give  de  kunnel 
any  back  slack  —  he  won't  hab  it." 

"But,  Joe, "  I  pleaded;  "I  must  have  writ 
ing  material."  "  Oh,  you  can  git  paper  and  pen, 
I  reckon,  from  the  capt'in  ob  de  wagon  train." 
"And  how  about  my  stockings  and  under 
clothes  ?  Are  there  laundry  facilities  along  the 
route?"  The  young  colored  man  laughed  a 
little  more  than  I  think  servants  should,  and 
said,  "Why,  you  does  you'  own  washin',  on 
Sunday.  Dey  lays  up  along  some  crick,  an' 
instid  of  goin'  to  church,  you  cleans  up  you' 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  71 

duds ;  greases  you'  boots  an'  harness ;  bright 
ens  up  you'  pistols,  an'  sits  aroun'  an'  tells  lies. 
Have  you  got  de  ager,  boss  ?  You  looks  like 
you  hab  de  chills.  You  bettah  not  stay  in 
heah  ;  but  jes  git  you'  rubber  blanket  and  de 
odder  —  git  a  good  heavy  one,  now!  Here, 
boss  !  Don't  say  nuffin  about  it ;  we'll  jes  sew 
two  of  'em  double  —  so  —  git  you'  overcoat,  an' 
tie  it  up  in  a  roll.  Now,  go  out  an'  take  a 
nap  on  a  cotton  bale,  in  de  sun  ;  it  am  de  best 
thing  fer  chills  what  am." 

I  took  his  friendly  advice ;  and,  using  the 
rolled-up  blanket  for  a  pillow,  I  picked  out  a 
cotton  bale  that  lay  at  a  comfortable  angle  in 
the  sun,  and  thought  I  would  take  a  little 
nap.  I  slept  two  hours ;  and  just  woke  up,  a 
little  while  ago,  and  am  writing  this  letter  with 
a  pencil,  as  you  see,  on  paper  Joe  brought  me 
from  the  office. 

It  is  much  warmer  here  than  in  Massa 
chusetts,  at  this  time  of  year  —  quite  like  sum 
mer.  I  feel  better  than  at  any  time  since  I  left 
you.  We  say  that  all  life  comes  from  the 
sun  —  I  guess  the  sunshine  and  the  sleep  did 
me  good.  I  have  been  saying  all  day,  "  God 


72  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

is  my  strength  !"  For  surely  all  the  strength 
we  have  does  come  from  Him ;  and  God  is 
strength,  not  weakness. 

And  then,  all  along  this  trip,  I  have  been  so 
fearful  and  hesitating  —  so  afraid  things  would 
not  come  out  right.  I  have  made  a  hundred 
plans,  and  then  kicked  them  over.  And  here  I 
am,  sitting  on  a  cotton  bale,  as  warm,  com 
fortable  and  happy  as  if  I  owned  this  entire 
levee,  with  the  hundred  busy  teams  I  can 
count,  and  two  hundred  "niggers"  —  and  the 
big  steamboat  ( blowing  off  steam )  were  all 
mine,  too. 

We  leave  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
Just  what  my  duties  will  be,  I  do  not  know ; 
but  Balconi  says,  "  Rest  easy,  Forbes  !  I  won't 
put  you  in  any  place  where  you  cannot  get 
along,  depend  on  it." 

If  you  direct  to  Sedalia,  Mo.,  I  will  get  it. 
We  are  to  stop  there  three  days. 

The  sun  is  so  warm  and  pleasant,  I  think  I 
will  just  take  another  nap. 

The  tide  is  coming  in. 

Your  loving  son, 

ARTHUR. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD,  73 

NUMBER  XVIII. 

ARTHUR    R.    FORBES    TO    JOHN    HOLWORTHY. 

The  start.  Relay  riders.  A  curious  character 
called  "  Gooseberry  Jake"  appears  on  the  hori 
zon.  A  financial  scheme.  Rattlesnake  Pete. 
Is  it  only  women  who  put  the  emphatic  mes 
sage  in  a  postscript? 

CAMP,  BEAR  CREEK,  May  2,  1851. 
DEAR  OLD  CHUM:  — 

I  was  so  fortunate,  in  St.  Louis,  as  to  get  a 
situation  as  driver  in  a  Government  wagon 
train,  bound  for  the  Rockies.  I  get  my  board 
and  soldier's  pay,  which  is  better  than  going  as 
a  passenger  and  paying  fare.  There  is  no  rail 
road  through  this  far,  yet ;  and  no  regular  stage 
coaches,  either.  The  mail  is  carried  on  horse 
back  by  relay  riders,  who  ride  night  and  day, 
doing  ten  miles  an  hour.  Two  hundred  and 
forty  miles  a  day  —  two  thousand  four  hundred 
and  sixty  miles  in  ten  days.  One  of  these 
riders  passed  our  camp  a  little  while  ago.  We 
heard  the  pattering  hoof  beats  of  his  horse, 
several  miles  away,  and  the  tinkle  of  the  single 
sleigh-bell  attached  to  his  martingale.  We  gave 


74  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

him  a  cheer  as  he  passed,  he  answered  back 
without  slowing  up;  and   I  have  been  sitting' 
here  by  the  camp  fire,  listening  to  the  sound 
of  the  hurrying  hoofs,  and  the    tinkling   bell, 
as  they  died  away  in  the  distance. 

We  left  St.  Louis  at  six  o'clock  last  Wednes 
day  morning.  I  went  around  to  the  yards 
where  the  wagons  were,  and  reported  to  the 
captain.  "  Oh  !  you  are  the  '  tenderfoot,'  are 
you?"  he  snorted.  I  explained  that  my  feet 
were  all  right;  it  was  my  throat — a  mere 
bronchial  affection,  which  I  hoped  would  soon 
pass  away.  He  stared  at  me  ;  then  laughed,  and 
shouted,  "Well,  don't  stand  around  !  You  hook 
on  these  two  mules  to  that  ammunition  wagon. 
It  has  springs,  and  won't  be  so  hard  for  you. 
You  don't  look  as  if  you  could  pull  the  strings 
over  four,  to  say  nothin'  of  six.  When  you  git 
hitched  on,  close  up  behind  the  big  six-mule 
wagon  with  the  red  tail-gate,  and  stay  there. 
When  the  big  wagon  goes,  you  go;  and  mind 
you  keep  in  your  place.  That  is  all  you  have 
to  do :  foller  Gooseberry  Jake,  who  drives  the 
big  wagon."  Off  he  went,  swearing  at  a  fel 
low  who  was  trying  to  get  a  balky  horse  into 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  75 

its  place.  I  managed  to  get  my  two  mules 
hitched  up,  some  way  or  other.  They  are  old, 
scarred-up,  weather-beaten  animals,  and  very 
gentle.  I  have  named  one  Ariadne  and  the 
other  Bacchus,  and  a  great  friendship  has 
sprung  up  among  us  three.  At  first  they 
seemed  to  expect  a  kick  every  time  I  came 
near  them ;  but  now  Bacchus  rubs  his  nose 
against  my  sleeve,  to  show  his  good-will. 
Ariadne,  as  is  meet,  is  yet  a  trifle  shy,  but 
looks  at  Bacchus  who  waves  his  ears,  endeavor 
ing  to  reassure  her. 

There  are  forty-eight  wagons  in  the  train, 
some  of  them  covered  with  canvas  which  is 
stretched  over  hoops,  making  them  look  like 
tents.  Mine,  which  is  covered  in  this  way,  is 
loaded  with  ammunition,  and  is  much  lighter 
than  the  others,  and  on  rubber  "springs"  — 
although  I  don't  feel  much  spring  to  them. 

Jacob  Buckthorn,  who  drives  the  wagon 
ahead  of  me,  told  me  a  story  yesterday, 
about  an  ammunition  wagon  that  once  got  run 
away  with,  by  a  "pesky  team  of  jack-rabbits" 
(as  he  calls  the  mules)  ;  they  ran  the  wagon 
into  a  gulch  and  the  whole  thing  exploded  in  a 


76  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

"holy  second."  Nothing  was  ever  found  of 
the  driver,  but  a  tenpenny  nail  which  he  used 
for  a  button  on  his  trousers.  "  One  of  the 
mules  was  white  and  t'other  was  black,"  said 
Mr.  Buckthorn,  "and  somehow  the  explosion 
never  hurt  the  mules,  'cept  to  singe  their  tails 
a  little,  but  it  scared  them  so  that  the  black 
mule  turned  all  of  a  sudden  white,  and  the 
white  mule  turned  black." 

Mr.  Buckthorn  is  a  small  man,  serious,  sober, 
and  never  smiles.  We  were  sitting  on  a  little 
bank  by  the  roadside  where  we  had  stopped  for 
dinner.  After  he  told  the  story  he  paused  and 
expectorated  straight  at  a  fly  ten  feet  away. 
He  is  the  most  profane  man  I  ever  knew  ;  but 
his  swearing  is  so  artistic  it  excites  my  admi 
ration.  He  curses  his  six  mules  all  together, 
then  one  at  a  time ;  then  he  curses  them  by 
parts  —  damning  their  eyes,  ears,  tails,  etc. 
He  has  a  whip  with  a  lash  eighteen  feet  long 
which  he  swings  round  and  round  his  head, 
then  snaps  it  over  the  ears  of  the  leaders 
with  a  report  like  a  pistol  shot.  He  holds 
his  lines  all  in  one  hand,  and  handles  the 
whip  with  the  other,  keeping  one  foot  on 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  77 

the  brake.  As  we  drive  along  lazily,  I  amuse 
myself  by  watching  him.  He  does  not  talk 
very  much,  but  when  he  does  get  started  he  is 
very  entertaining.  He  can  read  and  write, 
which  is  more  than  most  of  the  drivers  can  do. 
We  have  become  fast  friends  ;  for,  in  spite  of 
his  bad  language,  he  has  a  tender  heart  and  has 
told  me  much  about  his  folks  in  Arkansas. 

At  first  I  thought  he  was  cruel  to  his 
mules,  but  I  soon  found  that  he  never  let  the 
lash  strike  them.  They  call  him  "Goose 
berry  Jake"  on  account  of  a  plan  he  talks 
of,  for  planting  gooseberry  bushes  on  the 
plains  of  Kansas.  He  explained  to  me  that 
there  are  great  numbers  of  large  rabbits  (called 
jack-rabbits)  on  these  prairies.  They  multiply 
very  fast,  and  eat  up  all  the  shrubs  planted  by 
the  settlers,  completely  ruining  the  orchards. 
But  the  thorns  on  the  gooseberries  protect  the 
plants.  He  says  gooseberries  grow  wherever 
cactus  will.  The  bushes  require  little  water, 
and  no  cultivation.  The  alkali  of  the  plains  is 
exactly  fitted  to  their  wants  —  alkali  being  pur 
chased  in  vast  quantities  by  gardeners  in  the 
East,  to  put  on  their  gardens. 


78  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Pennaworth,  you  know,  in  the  Divinity 
School,  is  greatly  interested  in  horticulture. 
Now,  Jack,  you  see  him,  and  get  all  the 
facts  that  you  can  about  this  gooseberry  sub 
ject,  and  let  me  know  if  it  is  practicable. 
The  crop  is  sure,  they  say —  no  insect  destroy 
ing  the  fruit,  as  is  often  the  case  with  currants. 
And  if  Mr.  Buckthorn  is  right,  that  the  four- 
year-old  bushes  will  produce  at  the  rate  of 
three  thousand  dollars'  worth  to  the  acre,  there 
certainly  is  something  in  it.  His  plan  is  to 
simply  gather  the  berries  and  press  out  the 
juice  and  pulp,  putting  this  in  barrels  and 
shipping  it  to  St.  Louis  dealers,  who  will  be 
glad  to  buy  it  for  making  up  into  wine,  jam, 
vinegar,  preserves,  ketchup,  etc.  I  haven't 
many  hopes  for  the  plan,  but  you  know  I 
will  never  be  satisfied  with  eight  dollars  a 
month.  No  hurry ;  better  write  me  at  St. 
Joseph  within  a  week  after  you  get  this. 

Another  eccentric  son  of  Adam  in  our  train 
is  Rattlesnake  Pete,  so  called  on  account  of  a 
string  of  rattlesnake  tails  that  serve  him  for  a 
hat-band.  Pete  has  three  notches  cut  in  the 
butt  of  his  pistol,  and  is  said  to  be  a  "bad 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  79 

man."  As  to  his  depravity  I  cannot  speak; 
but  last  night  was  quite  cool,  and,  on  awaking 
this  morning,  I  found  an  extra  blanket  covering 
me,  with  Pete's  "brand"  on  it.  It  seems  that 
men  of  this  name  are  given  to  denial ;  for,  when 
I  accused  him  of  putting  this  blanket  on 
my  bed,  he  acknowledged  the  blanket  was 
"his'n,"  but  swore,  with  several  unnecessary 
oaths,  that  he  did  not  know  how  it  got  there. 
Jake  afterward  told  me  that  in  the  night  he  saw 
Rattlesnake  Pete  tiptoe  across  and  spread  the 
blanket  over  me,  and  then  quickly  go  back  to 
his  own  bunk.  Here  Jacob  paused,  and,  after  a 
moment's  reflection,  impressively  expectorated 
and  said:  "If  Rattlesnake  Pete  says  he  didn't 

put  that  er  blanket  over  ye,  he  is  a 

dirty  liar  —  that's    all    I    hev   to    say!."     And 
silence  reigned. 

The  first  day  out,  I  thought  I  should  drop  off 
and  die  by  the  roadside.  It  was  foggy  and 
damp,  early  in  the  morning,  and  I  got  chilled ; 
but  the  sun  came  out  about  nine  o'clock,  and  I 
then  felt  better.  But  the  continual  jolt  of  the 
wagon  made  my  side  ache.  At  night  we 
camped-out  beside  a  stream  in  the  edge  of  the 


80  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

woods.  Mr.  Buckthorn  was  very  kind,  and 
showed  me  how  to  tether  my  mules.  We  had 
supper  of  hot  coffee,  potatoes  baked  in 
the  ashes,  and  the  cook  of  our  mess  made 
corn-bread,  baking  it  on  a  hot  shovel.  ,  We 
drank  the  coffee  out  of  tin  cups.  I  was  so 
tired  I  could  hardly  stand,  but  Buckthorn  said 
I  had  "a  great  mouth  for  grub;"  and  surely 
I  never  tasted  food  that  was  so  acceptable. 
Buckthorn  made  my  bed  under  the  wagon,  by 
simply  laying  down  the  rubber  blanket ;  and  I 
put  the  wagon  seat  under  my  head  for  a  pil 
low —  then  the  blanket  over  me.  At  five 
o'clock  the  bugle  call  awoke  me.  I  had  slept 
straight  through — something  I  have  not  done 
for  three  months.  I  felt  pretty  stiff  and  sore, 
but  the  cook  had  the  coffee  hot ;  and  the  excite 
ment  of  the  camp  —  getting  the  animals  to 
gether,  and  loading  up,  made  me  forget  myself, 
so  I  did  not  think  of  my  usual  morning  cough 
ing  spell  until  well  toward  noon,  and  of  course 
there  was  then  no  time  to  go  back  and  have  it. 

With  regards  to  all  the  boys,  I  am,  as  ever, 

ARTHUR. 

P.    S.      You    seem    to    be    quite    favorably 


FORBES  OF  HA  R  VA  RD.  81 

impressed  with    Miss    Harold  —  I    understand 
she  is  a  very  worthy  person. 


NUMBER  XIX. 

HEZEKIAH     PENNAWORTH     TO     ARTHUR     RIPLEY 
FORBES. 

Mr.  Pennaworth  awake  to  the  financial  side. 
Theories  versus  Facts.  "  The  Welsh  variety 
of  Lepus  Cuniculus" 

CAMBRIDGE,  May  10,  1851. 
A.  R.  FORBES. 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  :  At  our  regular  society 
meeting,  last  evening,  a  letter  was  read  from 
you,  addressed  to  our  mutual  friend  and 
brother,  J.  Holworthy. 

The  plan  you  outline  in  reference  to  planting 
the  plains,  or  what  is  known  on  Colton's  Atlas 
as  "the  Great  American  Desert,"  with  the 
Ribes  Grossularia,  I  deem  entirely  practicable. 
This  plant  needs  a  semi-tropical  climate  and  a 
soil  well  charged  with  alkaline  salts.  As  it 
sends  roots  well  downward,  very  little  moisture 
is  required.  My  younger  brother  has  some 


82  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

fine  specimens  of  Lepus  Cuniculus  (commonly 
known  as  rabbit);  and,  to  test  the  matter,  I 
secured  from  the  Harvard  Botanical  Gardens 
several  large  slips  of  the  Ribes  Grossularia, 
and  fed  to  them.  The  rabbits  show  a  great 
fondness  for  it,  and  I  deem  the  thorns  no  dis 
advantage;  as  they  ate  the  stems,  thorns  and 
all.  We  can  safely  trust  nature  in  such  cases, 
and  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  the  rabbits 
will  thrive  on  it. 

I  also  find  your  statement  to  the  effect  that 
rabbits  multiply  very  rapidly  is  correct  —  all 
authorities  supporting  you.  (See  Xenophon, 
page  261,  Wrangham  translation ;  Audubon, 
11-2;  Wood,  162;  Baxter,  199.)  I  understand 
you  to  say  that  there  is  a  ready  market  in  St. 
Louis  for  all  the  rabbits  that  can  be  procured ; 
and  if,  for  any  unknown  reason,  they  should  fail 
to  multiply,  the  fruit  from  the  Ribes  Grossula- 
ria  could  then  be  sold  at  a  good  profit.  The 
entire  scheme  looks  very  hopeful  to  me  ;  and,  if 
you  organize  a  stock  company  to  operate  the 
plan,  I  think  I  can  borrow  a  few  hundred  dol 
lars  from  my  aunt  to  put  in.  Of  course  I  will 
always  be  very  glad  to  give  you  the  advantage 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  83 

'of  my  technical  knowledge  (if  I  may  be  allowed 
the  expression). 

You  were  looking  very  poorly  when  I  saw 
you  last ;  but  my  earnest  prayer  is  that  you 
may,  in  time,  be  fully  restored  to  health  and 
usefulness. 

Yours  faithfully, 

H.  PENNAWORTH. 

P.  S.  I  would  suggest  the  Welsh  variety 
of  the  Lepus  Cunicuhis,  as  probably  being  the 
best  known  on  the  market. 

H.  P. 


NUMBER  XX. 

JOHN  HOLWORTHY  TO  ARTHUR  R.   FORBES. 

Gooseberry  Jake  to  have  a  degree  for  "valuable 
contributions  to  science"  Typical  college 
scenes.  Aunt  Marie  ill.  The  mill  stock. 

CAMBRIDGE,  May  13,  1851. 
DEAR  OLD  MAN  :  — 

I  read  your  letter  at  the  Phi  Beta  Ka£>pa, 
and  you  should  have  heard  the  boys  shout 
when  I  sat  down. 


84  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Bridges  got  the  eye  of  the  chair  and  pro 
posed  that  the  degree  of  Ph.  D.  be  bestowed 
on  Gooseberry  Jake  for  valuable  contributions 
to  science,  and  that  a  suitable  present  be  pur 
chased  and  forwarded  to  him  in  recognition  of 
his  great  kindness  to  our  Arthur  of  the  Round 
Table.  Before  the  *  motion  could  be  put, 
someone  with  strong  lungs  shouted,  "Three 
cheers  for  Bacchus ! "  I  never  saw  the  boys 
quite  so  jolly  over  anything  as  they  were  to 
hear  of  your  returning  health,  and  several 
speeches  were  made  that  must  have  caused 
your  ears  to  tingle.  I  will  not  tell  you  what 
they  said ;  you  might  get  inflated  with  your 
own  importance,  and  make  it  unpleasant  for 
the  camp.  When  the  meeting  broke  up,  it  was 
with  a  Rah,  Rah,  Rah,  Fifty-two,  Staunch  and 
True,  Rah,  Rah,  Rah,  F-O-R-B-E-S.  Then,  as 
we  were  filing  out,  someone  started  it  again : 
Rah,  Rah,  Rah,  B-U-C-K-T-H-O-R-N. 

To  change  the  subject :  Miss  Harold  plays 
the  violin  delightfully.  I  have  some  talent  in 
that  direction,  and  believe  I  will  have  her  give 
me  lessons. 

Was  up  to    Concord,  Sunday,  on    business. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  85 

Called  to  see  your  Aunt  Marie.  She's  down 
flat  with  rheumatism  —  awful!  You  know  that 
all  the  money  she  has  —  about  seven  thousand 
dollars  —  is  invested  in  the  Livingston  Mill  at 
Lowell.  Well,  they  are  tied  up  some  way, 
through  the  infringement  suit,  and  failed 
to  pay  the  dividend  which  should  have  been 
sent  out  on  the  ist.  The  papers  say  it's  only 
temporary,  and  that  the  money  will  be  paid 
early  in  June. 

Aunt  Marie  is  such  a  fidgety  old  creature, 
she  was  fretting  and  stewing  because  the 
money  had  not  come.  She  gives  her  money 
away,  and  would,  no  matter  how  much  she 
had ;  but  I  was  afraid  the  dividend  being  held 
back  would  make  her  worse.  The  money  is 
paid  through  the  Concord  Bank,  you  know. 
I  happened  to  call  on  your  mother  and  was 
talking  to  Miss  Harold  about  it,  when  the  idea 
struck  me  that  if  we  could  manage  to  pay  the 
funds  over  to  Aunt  Marie  now,  it  would  stop 
her  worry.  I  explained  that  the  dividend  will 
be  paid  on  June  ist,  anyhow,  so  whoever 
furnishes  the  money  to  the  old  lady  will  only 
have  to  wait  three  weeks ;  I  can  see  the  bank, 


86  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

tell  them  that  I  had  advanced  the  money,  and 
when  the  dividend  comes  they  can  pay  it  to 
me  —  I  know  them  well. 

She  looked  at  me  with  her  big  blue  eyes 
(what  eyes  they  are,  old  chum !),  and  said, 
quietly :  "  So  you  are  sure  the  money  will  be 
paid  by  the  mill  company  on  June  ist,  are 
you,  Mr.  Holworthy  ? "  (I  would  give  my  last 
cent,  and  sheepskin  besides,  to  hear  her  call  me 
Jack!)  "Oh,  yes,"  said  I;  "I  know  it  posi 
tively  !  "  (Of  course,  old  man,  I  did  not  know  it 
positively ;  but  a  rich  company  like  that  cannot 
fail !) 

"Well,"  said  she,  "Mr.  Holworthy,  I  will 
supply  you  the  one  hundred  and  eighty  dollars, 
and  you  can  give  it  to  Miss  Meredith.  Then, 
when  the  money  comes  at  the  bank,  you  can 
get  it  and  repay  me,  as  you  propose." 

So  she  gave  me  a  check  on  the  Hide  and 
Leather,  Boston  ;  and  I  got  the  money  Monday 
and  went  up  to  Concord  on  the  10.15.  Aunt 
Marie  was  worse  than  ever  when  I  arrived  at 
the  little  house.  "Well,  'Auntie,'"  said  I, 
"here's  your  money  at  last !"  —  and  I  tossed  the 
roll  of  bills  on  the  bed.  "The  mill  has  paid 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  8T 

the  dividend,  and  their  statement  says  the  next 
may  be  a  double  one,  as  they  are  making 
money  hand  over  fist,  and  have  won  in  their 
lawsuit."  There  is  nothing  like  cheering  up 
sick  folks,  you  know,  my  boy ;  and  it  did  make 
the  old  woman  feel  good.  She  had  subscribed 
an  amount  to  a  fool  society  down  in  Boston 
for  teaching  colored  people  to  read  and  write; 
and  because  she  could  not  pay  her  dues,  it  kind 
of  struck  in  on  her,  I  guess. 

Honor  —  that  is,  Miss  Harold — is  quite  well 
fixed.  You  know  she  is  the  only  daughter  of 
the  commodore  who  died  a  year  ago.  When 
I  got  the  check  cashed  I  asked  the  teller  how 
much  balance  she  had.  He  stared  at  me  and 
asked  if  I  was  her  attorney.  "Not  exactly," 
said  I;  "but  I  am  her  doctor."  I  winked  at 
the  fellow,  and  tried  to  smile,  but  he  just 
passed  out  the  money  and  reached  for  the 
next  man's  check. 

Women  without  religion  are  like  flowers 
without  perfume,  I  have  heard.  The  Goddess 
is  religious,  and  it  is  strange  she  has  never 
tried  to  bring  me  over  to  her  way  of  thinking ; 
and  in  fact  I  have  not  yet  even  been  able  to 


88  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

find  out  to  what  church  she  belongs.  Now, 
when  I  was  converted,  two  years  ago  last  win 
ter,  at  the  big  revival,  I  wanted  to  stop  every 
one  I  met  and  bring  them  over  to  the  Lord's 
side.  But  as  I  have  changed  my  religion  three 
times  since  you  left,  and  do  not  exactly  know 
where  I  stand  now,  I  will  not  endeavor  to 
proselyte  at  this  writing. 

I  am  going  up  to  see  your  mother  again 
Sunday. 

About  the  gooseberry  scheme,  Arthur :  I 
have  talked  with  Pennaworth  about  it  —  rather 
hurriedly,  though ;  he  will  write  you  soon. 

With  great  regard  for  my  dear  old  chum,  I 
am, 

Ever  and  always, 

JACK. 

P.  S.  The  powwow  comes  off  next  week,  in 
the  big  hall  —  over  five  hundred  seats  reserved. 
I've  got  my  part  of  the  debate  down  fine.  It's 
unanswerable,  my  boy  —  there's  consolation  in 
that! 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 


NUMBER    XXI. 

JOHN    HOLWORTHY    TO    ARTHUR    R.    FORBES. 

A  great  question  debated. 

CAMBRIDGE,  MASS.,  May  20,   1851. 
DEAR  OLD  MAN  :  — 

The  debate  came  off  last  night,  and  to-day 
my  vertebra  is  hardly  strong  enough  to  uphold 
the  torso. 

The  question  was,  "  Resolved :  Woman's 
sphere  is  ministering  to  man's  needs."  I  was 
on  the  negative ;  with  Mitchell  and  Sayles, 
right  and  left  bowers. 

Affirmative  :  Bond,  Ducton,  and  Pennaworth. 
Bond  shied  his  castor  in  the  ring  first,  and 
struck  right  and  left.  My  pores  began  to  open, 
and  you  would  have  thought  I  had  taken  a  dia 
phoretic.  The  sweat  just  rolled  down  my 
collar,  and  I  gasped :  "  God  help  us,  we  are 
undone  !  Where  is  my  hat !  " 

Mitchell  followed ;  cool,  clear  and  logical  — 
not  in  the  least  rattled.  He  is  always  charm 
ingly  good-natured  and  clear-headed.  He 


90  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

mopped  the  floor  with  Bond,  and  when  he  sat 
down  I  felt  as  good  as  if  I  had  just  had 
three  cocktails.  (Lemon  and  a  little  sugar, 
please !) 

Ducton,  who  is  a  son  of  old  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ducton,  then  bored  the  audience  for  thirty  min 
utes,  and  they  all  nodded  assent.  (They  were 
asleep,  old  man.) 

I  had  practiced  on  my  speech  for  weeks,  and 
thought  I  had  it  by  the  tail ;  but  —  gracious 
jingo! — as  the  chairman  said,  "We  will 
now  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  from  Mr. 
Holworthy,"  my  knees  grew  awful  weak,  and 
when  I  walked  on  the  platform  the  boys  said  I 
acted  as  if  I  were  walking  through  tall  grass.  I 
thought  the  floor  was  going  to  fly  up  and  hit  me. 
I  glanced  over  the  audience,  and  it  looked  like 
a  thousand-legged  worm,  with  all  the  legs  clap 
ping  together ;  and  the  creature  had  rows  upon 
rows  of  eyes,  all  staring  at  your  Jack. 

I  started  in,  but  my  voice  squeaked  in  high 
C,  and  I  tried  it  again. 

"  Louder !  Louder !  "  someone  yelled.  "  Give 
it  to  'em,  Jack ! "  —  I  got  my  wind  by  this 
time,  and  made  a  home  run,  without  a  skip, 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  91 

from  one  end  of  the  speech  to  the  other ;  was 
afraid  to  stop  for  breath,  pause  or  inflection  for 
fear  I  would  forget  the  words.  So  I  put  in  all 
the  gestures  in  a  bunch,  at  the  last,  which 
brought  down  the  house. 

The  boys  applauded  with  unction.  But  I 
am  almost  afraid  it  was  left-handed.  They 
sent  up  a  basket  of  flowers  and  I  thought  at 
first  it  was  from  the  Iris ;  but  they  were  only 
artificial,  dead  stock  —  from  some  milliner's. 

Then  Sayles  sailed  in,  to  tie  up  all  the  loose 
ends  we  had  left  flying.  Sayles  is  a  sailor  from 
Saylesville  —  the  brightest  little  man  that  ever 
thawed  out  an  Upernavik  audience.  He  was 
funny,  persuasive,  then  logical;  and  I  said: 
"  Yes  ;  we  have  them  now  !  There  is  nothing  left 
for  'em  to  say  !  In  fact,  the  judges  might  as  well 
call  the  debate  closed  and  give  the  decision  in 
our  favor,  as  Pennaworth  is  only  a  drone,  any 
way."  But  Lord  help  us,  Arthur!  Pennaworth 
began  slow,  and  talked  ten  minutes  without 
saying  anything ;  but  I  saw  his  voice  kept  get 
ting  louder  and  louder,  his  long  arms  began  to 
work  like  a  windmill,  and  he  grew  red  in  the  face. 
He  flung  his  manuscript  on  the  carpet  and 


92  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

waded  into  that  audience  as  I  never  heard  a 
speaker  before.  He  rushed  from  one  side  of 
the  platform  to  the  other,  kicked,  stamped, 
foamed  at  the  mouth,  snorted,  roared  and 
shouted ;  he  quoted  from  everything  and  every 
body;  poetry,  history,  statistics — all  paid  trib 
ute  —  and  pathos,  bathos,  sarcasm  and  ridicule 
played  their  parts.  Then  he  took  us  up,  one 
after  the  other :  riddled  our  arguments,  scouted 
our  premises,  flouted  our  conclusions  and 
hooted  our  eloquence. 

I  saw  we  were  done  for  —  I  smiled  a  sickly, 
cast-iron  smile ;  my  collar  wilted,  and  I  tried 
to  sink  down  in  my  chair  so  no  one  could 
see  me. 

They  called  time  on  Pennaworth,  but  he 
would  not  stop ;  and  it  took  four  men  to  force 
him  into  a  chair,  or  he  would  have  been  shout 
ing  yet.  The  judges  gave  decision  against  us 
without  leaving  the  stage.  They  said  :  "The 
masterly  argument  of  Mr.  Pennaworth  makes 
our  duty  very  plain.  Affirmative  wins." 

It  was  a  sad  defeat  for  us,  old  man.  If  you 
had  been  here,  you  would  have  taken  my  place 
and  turned  the  tide ;  but  Penny  is  a  good  one 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  93 

on  his  feet.  Mitchell  took  notes  on  his  speech, 
and  I  send  them  herewith  —  hope  you  can 
make  'em  out.  Worst  thing  about  this  is  — 
the  tall  Iris  said  she  knew  I  would  win.  I 
don't  care  for  myself,  but  she  will  feel  awful 
bad. 

Yours  always, 

J.  HOLWORTHY. 

P.  S.  I  am  safe  on  the  Latin  exam.:  92-. 
Congratulate  me. 

I  have  written  and  sent  to  the  Goddess,  one 
sonnet  a  day  for  six  days  —  fourteen  lines  in  a 
sonnet,  you  know.  I  thought  I  could  keep  it 
up  for  a  month  or  more,  when  I  started  in;  but 
the  last  one  nearly  "died  a  borning,"  and  the 
next  may  bring  me  to  bed  entirely. 

JACK. 


94  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  XXII. 

NOTES     TAKEN     BY     MR.     MITCHELL     ON     SPEECH 
OF    MR.    PENNAWORTH. 

SUBJECT:  "  Woman  s  Sphere" 

Proper  sphere  of  woman  is  reproduction  and 
ministering  to  welfare  of  man.  "  God  com 
pleted  his  work  in  six  days  and  pronounced  it 
good."  (Gen.  i,  31.)  We  here  see  God  was 
satisfied  with  his  work  after  he  had  made 
Adam,  and  before  he  had  made  woman. 

The  woman  was  a  mere  after-thought  —  a 
mistake.  Has  not  proven  to  be  what  God 
expected.  Disappointment  both  to  God  and 
Adam.  No  man  ever  found  her  what  he 
expected. 

"Man  created  in  image  of  God,"  woman  not. 
"  But  I  would  have  you  know  that  the  head  of 
every  man  is  Christ ;  and  the  head  of  the 
woman  is  the  man."  (i  Corinthians  i,  1—2.) 
Much  difference  between  God  and  man  as 
between  man  and  woman. 

No  sane  man  calls  man  equal  -to  God; 
therefore  —  conversely.  No  proof  that  woman 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  95 

is  created  in  image  of  God.  Animals  all 
caused  to  pass  before  Adam ;  not  primarily  so 
he  should  name  them,  but  so  he  could  select 
helpmeet. 

Hard  to  please,  so  woman  was  made  for  his 
special  benefit.  Doll  made  for  child  never 
equal  to  child.  Neither  can  doll  legally 
assume  administration  of  child's  affairs. 
Woman  talks  to  serpent.  No  serpent  could 
speak  Greek  or  Hebrew,  so  woman  must  know 
serpent  language.  Long  conversation.  Woman 
not  surprised  when  serpent  accosted  her  — 
used  to  it.  Beast  herself,  and  knows  language 
of  beasts.  Woman  has  gradually  reached  her 
present  state  by  constant  association  with 
man  —  must  not  be  allowed  to  usurp.  "  Suf 
fer  not  a  woman  to  teach,  nor  to  usurp 
authority  over  the  man."  (i  Timothy  ii,  12.) 

Commandments  only  for  man;  as,  "Thou 
shalt  not  bear  false  witness,"  applied  only  to 
man.  No  woman  was  allowed  to  testify  in  court 
in  Hebrew  times,  for  could  not  be  trusted  to  tell 
truth. 

"Thou    shall    not     covet     thy    neighbor's 
wife,  nor  his  ojc,  nor  his  ass,"     No   woman 


96  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

covets  neighbor's  wife ;  woman  always  hates 
neighbor's  wife.  Hebrews  —  chosen  people 
of  God  —  were  allowed  to  sell  daughters 
same  as  ox  or  ass.  (Exodus  xxi,  7.)  Hebrew 
prayer-books  say,  "Blessed  God,  Maker  of 
the  universe  and  mighty  in  wisdom,  I  thank 
thee  that  thou  hast  not  made  me  a  woman." 
(Hebrew  word  here  for  woman  can  be  trans 
lated  either  beast  or  woman.) 

God  always  masculine;  all  angels  mascu 
line —  Gabriel,  Malachia,  etc.  No  woman  in 
heaven.  Proof  —  disciples  asked  Jesus  whose 
'  wife  the  woman  would  be  in  heaven  after  hav 
ing  seven  husbands  here.  "  In  heaven  there 
is  no  marriage  or  giving  in  marriage."  (Mark 
xii,  19-25.)  When  the  gods  wanted  female 
society  they  always  had  to  come  to  earth.  If 
woman  were  admitted  to  heaven,  would 
surely  force  marriage  on  man.  "  For  cause  "  : 
chief  business  of  woman  is  to  get  husband  — 
habit  fixed  in  nature. 

No  place  in  scripture  is  she  promised 
everlasting  life.  Jesus  said,  "Woman,  what 
have  I  to  do  with  thee."  (John  ii,  4.) 
Jesus  came  to  save  only  men,  as  this  clearly 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  97 

shows.  "  I  am  the  God  of  Abraham  and 
Isaac,  and  Jacob."  Never  said  he  was 
God  of  Rebecca,  Sarah  or  Rachel.  Man 
received  his  commission  to  be  "  ruler  over 
the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  the  beasts  of  the  field," 
before  woman  was  created.  All  lineage  in 
bible  given  by  males,  females  no  account  — 
not  worth  mentioning.  "God  breathed  into 
his  nostrils,  and  he  became  a  living  soul." 
God  never  breathed  into  her  nostrils  —  cannot 
be  called  a  soul.  Body  different  from  man  ;  more 
albumen  in  blood,  corpuscles  different,  etc.; 
original  ingredients  used  in  manufacture  differ 
ent. 

No  female  animals  equal  males :  only  male 
birds  sing  —  female  tigers  lack  all  beauty. 
But  tiger  qualities  in  all  females.  Lacks  cour 
age,  strength  and  beauty.  "But  I  find  more 
bitter  than  death  the  woman  ;  whose  heart  is 
snares  and  nets,  and  her  hands  as  bands." 
(Ecclesiastes  vii,  26.) 

"Let  woman  learn  in  silence,  with  all  subjec 
tion."  (i  Timothy  ii,  4.) 

"If  a  woman  would  have  knowledge  let  her 
ask  her  husband."  (St.  Paul.)  "Who  can  find. 
a  virtuous  woman  ?"  (Prov.) 


FOKBES  OF  HARVARD. 


Man  only  has  been  recognized  by  Deity. 
All  prophets,  men  —  witches,  women.  In 
Hebrew,  Adam,  Enoch,  Ish ;  Greek,  Anthro- 
pos ;  Latin,  Homo ;  German,  Mann ;  Slavic, 
Chlovec ;  Hungarian,  Ember.  All  these  mean 
man.  .Man  and  Deity  always  parsed  masculine. 


NUMBER  XXIII. 

MRS.    PRUDENCE    FORBES    TO    ARTHUR    RIPLEY 
FORBES. 

A  news-letter  from  the  good  mother.  Tells  of 
her  doubts,  hopes  and  fears.  Gives  advice  as 
to  care  of  health  and  other  matters. 

CONCORD,  May   13,   1851. 
MY  DEAR  SON  :  — 

I  was  very  glad  indeed  to  get  your  letter. 
Miss  Harold  read  it  over  to  me  when  she 
brought  it  from  the  office.  For,  although  the 
tea  was  waiting,  I  wanted  to  hear  how  you  are. 
Then,  when  supper  was  nearly  over,  I  thought 
I  would  like  to  hear  it  again. 

Miss  Harold  passed  her  cup  bach  twice,  and 
said  of  course  she  would  read  it  again,  and  we 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  99 

waxed  quite  merry  over  your  account  of  the 
colored  young  gentleman.  Is  he  a  slave, 
Arthur,  and  do  you  think  they  treat  him  well  ? 
And  does  he  really  belong  to  Mr.  Balcom  ? 
or  did  he  only  borrow  him !  I  knew  Harry 
Balcom's  mother  in  Sudbury,  before  she  was 
married ;  she  was  one  of  the  Davises.  She  is 
gone  now.  It  is  better  that  she  should, 
than  to  live  to  see  her  fourth  son  by  her  first 
husband,  a  slaveholder.  I  pray  I  may  never 
come  to  this. 

Miss  Harold  says  you  mean  by  "the  tide 
coming  in,"  that  you  are  better  and  that  your 
health  is  coming  back.  I  am  very  glad  to  hear 
it,  but  it  would  have  been  just  as  well  for  you 
to  have  said  so  in  plain  English.  You  did  not 
say  how  your  throat  was  or  whether  you  cough 
much  nights. 

I  hope  your  new  friends  wi)l  not  make  you 
forget  your  duty  to  your  old  mother.  The 
other  letters  you  wrote  had  much  more  love  in 
them  than  this  one. 

You  surely  must  be  out  of  medicine  before 
this,  and  I  hope  you  have  had  the  prescriptions 
the  doctor  sent  filled, 


100  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Be  very  careful,  Arthur,  about  breathing  the 
night  air  or  sitting  down  on  the  ground.  Your 
poor  pa's  trouble  began  from  just  a  cold  got  by 
going  around  the  house  in  his  stocking-feet, 
after  I  told  him  not  to.  I  think  you  should 
continue  soaking  your  feet  in  hot  mustard 
water  just  before  you  go  to  bed.  Be  careful 
to  wear  the  flannel  night  gown  I  made  you, 
until  June,  when  you  can  wear  the  cotton  if 
you  wish. 

Do  you  drink  any  coffee,  Arthur?  It  is  bad 
for  the  nerves.  I  would  not  eat  much  meat, 
either.  I  think  it  was  that,  that  made  you 
have  the  feverish  spells. 

Miss  Harold  helped  me  rake  the  front  yard 
and  we  have  had  the  man  spade  the  garden. 
He  dug  right  into  the  asparagus  before  I 
could  stop  him.  I  gave  him  a  piece  of  my 
mind.  We  will  make  the  beds  to-morrow ;  that 
is,  the  peas  and  beets.  Will  plant  the  potatoes 
with  two  eyes  in  a  hill.  Your  pa  always  put 
irrmore,  but  it  is  awful  wasteful,  and  I  used  to 
tell  him  so,  but  it  did  no  good. 

Miss  Harold  says  we  should  always  talk  of 
pleasant  things,  and  let  the  bad  alone.  For 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  101 

my  part,  I  always  have  done  so.  Then  she 
began  naming  over  the  good  things  I  have. 
And  it  is  a  blessing,  Arthur,  to  have  a  nice 
little  house  all  paid  for,  with  six  apple-trees, 
two  plums,  and  an  asparagus  bed,  even  if  that 
stupid  man  did  dig  in  it.  And,  with  the  money 
you  gave  me  the  day  you  left,  there  is  nearly 
two  hundred  dollars  in  the  bank.  Miss  Harold 
says  you  will  soon  be  well  and  making  money, 
and  that  a  woman  with  such  a  son  should  sing 
praises  all  day.  She  pays  her  -board  very  reg 
ular.  I  think  she  is  pretty  near  as  smart  and 
good  as  your  sister  Martha  would  have  been  if 
she  had  lived.  About  the  same  age,  too ;  for 
you  were  only  fourteen  months  three  weeks 
and  two  days  apart. 

That  same  pair  of  robins   is    back  making  a 
nest  in  the  porch.     They  make  an  awful  litter, 
but  I  guess  I  will  let  them  stay.     I  don't  see 
how  I   could  hardly  get   along   without    Miss  • 
Harold. 

I  forgot  to  say  she  reads  your  letters  to  me 
in  such  a  sweet,  gentle  voice,  and  knows  what 
you  mean.  You  can  always  tell  when  a  person 
understands  and  appreciates  what  he  reads. 


102  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

The  last  frost  killed  all  the  fruit  around 
here,  and  it  is  just  as  well,  for  the  apple-trees 
are  full  of  caterpillars.  I  never  saw  the  like ! 
Miss  Harold  has  tied  some  straw  on  my 
clothes-pole,  and  we  are  going  to  burn  them 
out  when  she  gets  back  from  Boston,  to-night. 
Yours  truly, 

P.  FORBES. 


NUMBER  XXIV. 

HONOR    HAROLD    TO    ARTHUR    RIPLEY    FORBES. 

"How  beautiful  on  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of 
those  who  bring  glad  tidings."  Optimism 
applied  to  life. 

CONCORD,  May  14,  1851. 
DEAR  MR.   FORBES:  — 

The  cheerful  letter  sent  to  your  mother  was 
a  great  benefit  to  her  and  your  other  friends 
here. 

When  the  son  of  Esculapius  does  not  know 
what  to  do  next,  he  sends  the  patient  away  on 
a  trip,  with  a  letter  of  recommendation  to 
Chance.  This  is  what  Dr.  Peabody  did  for 
you ;  but  Dr.  Chance  has  treated  you  well. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  103 

Mr.  Emerson  told  us,  you  remember,  "  We 
will  talk  of  all  subjects  save  one  —  namely,  our 
maladies." 

When  we  send  messages,  let  them  be  mes 
sages  of  life  and  good  cheer.  "  How  beautiful 
on  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  those  who 
bring  glad  tidings."  And  if  we  would  but  just 
distribute  the  glad  tidings,  which  we  all  receive 
in  such  abundance,  and  forget  the  bad,  it  would 
fade  away  and  the  messages  of  joy  would  grow 
like  the  big  snowballs  the  boys  roll. 

We  are  bathed  in  an  ocean  of  health,  and 
where  the  soul  is  in  right  relation  to  its  envi 
ronment  there  is  wholeness  of  body.  Health  is 
but  adaptation  to  environment.  When  the  mind 
of  man  adapts  itself  to  the  great  mind  of  God, 
of  which  it  is  a  part,  the  body  does  its  perfect 
work,  without  friction,  and  the  exercise  of 
every  function  is  a  pleasure. 

This  is  what  is  called  life  in  abundance.  "I 
come  that  ye  might  have  life." 

I  am  glad  that  you  are  getting  so  much 
pleasure  out  of  your  journey  ings,  by  adapting 
yourself  to  environment  and  entering  heartily 
and  cheerfully  into  whatever  you  undertake. 


104  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

This  is  putting  yourself  in  line  with  the  powers 
of  Nature,  and  you  are  strong  as  you  partake 
of  her  strength.  "Nature  never  yet  forsook 
the  heart  that  loved  her." 

As  I  write  these  lines  I  hear  your  mother's 
voice,  singing,  as  she  plants  the  bed  of  beets  in 
the  garden,  "Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul,  let  me  to 
thy  bosom  fly."  What  satisfaction  the  good 
woman  gets  from  her  song ! 

It  is  a  beautiful  spring  day.  The  hawthorn 
bushes  are  all  white  down  the  road-side,  and 
the  air  is  balmy  and  full  of  perfume.  I  sit  near 
the  window  of  what  your  mother  calls  "my 
Arthur's  room,"  and  have  been  watching  two 
busy  robins  bringing  twigs,  straws  and  strings 
to  make  a  nest  in  the  porch,  just  under  the 
window.  I  am  glad  the  tide  is  coming  in ;  it 
will  not  ebb,  this  time. 

Very  sincerely, 

H.  HAROLD. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  105 

NUMBER  XXV. 

JOHN    HOLWORTHY    TO    ARTHUR    RIPLEY    FORBES. 

Forbes1  old  roofa-mate  loses  his  free  and  easy 
good-humor,*  "I  myself  am  hell."  The 
money  advanced  by  Miss  Harold  cannot  be 
returned  to  her. 

CAMBRIDGE,  June   10,   1851. 
DEAR  ARTHUR:  — 

I  am  in  deep  trouble.  If  you  were  here,  you 
could  help  me.  Not  a  soul  knows  of  it,  in  any 
way,  but  you.  It  is  an  awful  tangle,  and  now  I 
know  she  hates  me  and  I  have  lost  her;  and 
lost  my  own  soul  at  the  same  time.  "I  myself 
am  hell,"  said  Milton.  Now  I  understand  it. 

Honor  advanced  the  money,  you  know,  on 
my  advice,  to  Aunt  Marie  for  the  May  dividend. 
The  papers  all  said,  most  positively,  that  the 
payment  was  only  deferred  until  June  1st; 
but  yesterday  another  announcement  came  out, 
saying  a  receiver  had  been  appointed  and  it 
had  been  decided  to  pass  the  dividend  entirely. 
It  seems  that  crooked-eyed  young  shyster,  But- 


106  FORBES  OF^  HARVARD. 

ler,  up  at  Lowell,  attached  their  water-wheel, 
and  they  were  beaten  in  the  infringement  suit, 
after  all. 

The  stock  is  all  right,  qf  course,  and  the  next 
dividend  will  come  sure,  for  this  is  the  first  one 
they  have  missed  in  thirteen-*ftars.  But  God 
help  me !  Arthur,  how  can  I  explain  the  mat 
ter  to  her?  If  I  could  manage  to  get  the 
money  to  pay  her  back  —  but  you  know  I  am  in 
debt  now. 

I  have  found  the  commodore  only  left  Honor 
a  few  thousand  dollars ;  and  that  one  hundred 
and  eighty  she  gave  me  is  nearly  a  year's  inter 
est  on  all  she  has.  Her  father  left  her  all  of  his 
property,  but  the  old  gentleman  must  have 
been  a  high-flyer  or  he  would  have  left  more. 
And  then  she  pays  her  brother's  .  way  at 
Exeter. 

I  have  robbed  her  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  dollars ;  I  can  never  look  her  in  the 
face  again.  Curses  on  me !  When  you  get 
this  I  may  be  at  the  bottom  of  Charles 
River.  I  never  dare  go  back  to  Concord.  Do 
you  think  you  could  get  me  a  place  as  driver  in 
your  wagon  train  ?  I  have  robbed  a  woman  J 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  107 

—  I  mean  an  angel.     If  it  ever  gets   out,  the 
very  air  will  poison  me. 

Disconsolately, 

JACK. 


NUMBER  XXVI. 


Forbes  comes  to  rescue ;  sends  money  to  &e 
returned  to  Miss  Harold.  Cross-purposes.  A 
story  about  the  good  old  doctor.  Evidently 
more  iron  in  /  the  blood  of  our  hero.  "  No 
night  sweats,  but  occasionally  one  in  daytime." 

ON     THE     MARCH,     FIFTY     MILES     WEST     OF     ST. 

JOSEPH,  June  19,  1851. 

MY  DEAR  JACK  :  — 

Your  letter  of  tenth  instant  has  just  reached 
me,  and  I  send  you  by  the  Wells-Fargo 
Express,  one  hundred  and  eighty  dollars.  You 
will  get  a  draft  with  it  over  in  Boston  and  mail 
it  to  Miss  Harold  at  once.  I  do  not  need  the 
money  anyway  —  no  chance  to  spend  money 
out  here,  excepting  for  whiskey  and  tobacco,  and 
I  have  no  use  for  either.  If  I  should  get  laid  up 
somewhere  along  the  way,  I  guess  someone 


108  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

will  take  care  of  me ;  and  as  for  paying  express 
charges  back  on  the  long  box,  I  have  given  up 
the  idea.  It  will  not  be  necessary  to  send  it, 
old  chum.  I  have  torn  up  the  paper  that  was 
in  my  pocket-book  with  directions  about  send 
ing  the  cadaver  back. 

By  the  way,  did  I  ever  tell  you  of  how  I 
called  on  good  old  Dr.  Peabody,  the  week  before 
I  left  ?  Well,  I  had  decided  I  would  get  the 
truth  from  him  about  my  condition.  If  it  was 
time  for  me  to  beckon  to  Charon,  I  wanted  to 
know  it,  and  I  told  him  so.  "Well,  well!  jes' 
so,  jes'  so  !  "  said  he.  He  really  is  a  very  kind- 
hearted  old  man,  you  know  —  very  consider 
ate  —  sympathetic  ;  but  about  as  absent  minded 
as  my  Bacchus.  He  walked  around  me  with  his 
tape  line,  testing  the  expansion  and  contraction 
of  my  chest.  Then  he  tapped  all  round  and  list 
ened  to  the  respiration  and  heart-beat.  Counted 
my  pulse ;  took  temperature ;  and,  writing  out 
a  prescription,  handed  it  to  me  and  tried  to  slide 
me  out  the  office  door  by  saying,  "  It  looks  like 
rain — you  had  better  hasten."  I  was  not  to 
be  put  off,  and  I  said  :  "  Doctor,  you  have  not 
answered  my  question.  Are  my  lungs  affected  ? 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  109 

I  am  not  afraid  to  know  the  truth."  His 
man  Friday  was  just  bringing  the  gig  around, 
and  the  old  gentleman  was  getting  a  little  out  of 
patience,  because  I  kept  standing  there.  He 
was  evidently  thinking  of  the  call  he  was  about 
to  make,  and  he  answered  me  back:  "Jes'  so, 
jes'  so !  Well,  can't  you  wait  ?  If  your  lungs 
are  affected  —  post  mortem  will  show  it,  won't 
it  ? " 

Well,  chum,  I  do  not  feel  quite  so  strong 
yet,  as  of  old  ;  but  I  tell  you  this  — you  need  not 
sharpen  your  scalpel  for  the  autopsy  just  yet. 
Let  others  take  delight  in  the  thought  of  hav 
ing  loved  ones  deck  their  graves  with  flowers 
and  water  them  with  their  tears  —  but  life 
to  me  is  sweet ;  and  the  world  so  delight 
fully  confusing,  and  things  so  uncertain, 
that  I  want  to  stay  as  long  as  I  can,  to  see  how 
it  "pans  out."  Appetite?  Well,  I  should 
say  so  !  I  have  not  slept  in  a  house  for  three 
weeks  and  the  hoarseness  has  all  gone  away. 
I  surprised  the  camp  with  the  college  yell, 
to-day.  "  Blackfeet,  be  gosh  !  "  shouted  Goose 
berry  Jake,  as  he  reached  for  his  gun.  I  for 
got  to  tell  you  that  each  driver  has  been  given 


110  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

a  rifle,  now,  and  houses  and  civilization  are  left 
behind.  At  night  we  picket  our  animals,  or 
enclose  them  in  a  square  by  running  a  rope 
from  one  wagon  to  another.  In  a  week,  says 
Buckthorn,  all  the  wagons  will  be  backed  in  the 
form  of  a  circle  at  night,  with  the  horses  and 
mules  in  the  center,  and  we  will  have  to  do  guard 
duty.  I  have  nothing  in  way  of  baggage,  but 
a  comb  and  tooth-brush.  Gray  flannel  shirt, 
blue  trousers,  top  boots,  belt  and  two  pistols, 
with  a  sweet  smile  and  a  fine  crop  of  No.  9 
whiskers,  make  up  my  afternoon  suit  —  which  is 
also  my  morning  attire. 

No  night  sweats,  but  one  occasionally  in  the 
daytime,  if  a  wagon  happens  to  get  stuck  in  a 
quicksand  —  as  Jake's  did,  to-day.  I  put  Ari 
adne  and  Bacchus  on  ahead  of  his  six  mules ; 
and,  with  the  help  of  a  lever,  and  with  a  long 
pull  and  a  strong  pull,  and  many  mighty  oaths 
from  Jake,  we  did  the  act  in  graceful  style. 

Good-by  for  this  time,  old  chum.  Send  the 
draft  at  once  to  Miss  Harold,  and  write  me  that 
you  have  done  so,  directing  care  of  Captain 
Hunter,  United  States  wagon  train,  Number 
Thirty-one  on  trail  to  Pike's  Peak. 

Sincerely  yours,         A.  R.  FORBES. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  Ill 

NUMBER  XXVII. 

JOHN  HOLWORTHY  TO  ARTHUR  R.  FORBES. 

Holworthy  gets  the  money  and  goes  to  Concord. 
Rather  florid  description  of  the  yoiing  lady 
and  her  attire.  Miss  Harold  thinking  the 
money  is  from  the  pocket  of  Holworthy 
refuses  to  accept  more  than  half.  Mr.  Hol 
worthy  does  not  enlighten  her. 

CAMBRIDGE,  June  29. 
MY  DEAR  ARTHUR:  — 

How  can  I  possibly  thank  you  —  you  are 
my  savior.  I  got  the  express  package,  and 
walked  straight  to  Concord,  thirteen  miles, 
without  a  skip.  Found  Honor  at  your  mother's, 
working  in  the  flower-beds.  I  took  hold  and 
gave  her  a  big  lift,  putting  the  whole  garden  in 
apple-pie  order.  She  wore  a  big  sun-bon 
net  tied  under  the  chin  with  blue  ribbon,  and  I 
never  knew  before  that  a  sun-bonnet  could  be 
so  pretty.  She  wore  gloves,  which  I  was  sorry 
for,  as  I  wanted  to  touch  her  tapering  fingers 
— they  are  so  sensitive  and  alive.  She  did  not 
offer  to  shake  hands,  but  was  very  pleasant, 
and  talked  about  the  weather,  and  the  flowers. 


112  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

I  saw  she  was  not  going  to  ask  me  in, 
so  I  just  handed  out  the  one  hundred  and 
eighty  dollars  and  remarked  off-hand :  "  It 
was  rather  slow  coming,  but  hope  you  have 
not  been  inconvenienced."  I  started  to  go, 
never  thinking  for  a  moment  that  she  knew 
about  the  receiver  being  appointed :  not  one 
woman  in  a  hundred  ever  reads  the  papers,  you 
know.  She  took  the  money,  and  called  me 
back  as  I  started  to  go.  She  looked  surprised 
and  laid  down  the  little  hoe.  "But,  Mr. 
Holworthy,"  said  she,  as  she  opened  her  big 
eyes,  "this  is  your  money!"  I  saw  it  was  all 
up  —  she  knew  —  I  could  not  lie  to  her.  You 
know  I  tell  the  truth,  anyway ;  but,  where  it  is 
positively  necessary,  I  might  hold  back  things 
a  little. 

But,  Heaven  help  me !  Arthur,  I  must  tell  her 
everything.  She  kept  looking  at  me  and  I 
knew  I  must  speak,  so  I  said :  "  Of  course  you 
know  they  did  not  pay  the  dividend.  I  just 
borrowed  a  little  of  a  friend  to  make  up  the 
amount ;  I  hadn't  quite  enough  by  me.  What 
kind  of  flower  is  that  in  the  corner?"  But 
she  was  not  to  be  turned  off.  She  kept  looking 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  113 

at  me,  and  then  said,  after  an  instant,  "  But,  Mr. 
Holwortby,  we  were  partners  in  this  matter, 
and  you  must  take  back  half  of  the  money." 
She  put  it  in  my  hand  and  I  stammered,  "  I 
wish  we  were  partners  in  everything."  If  she 
heard  it  she  gave  no  sign  ;  but  she  walked  with 
me  to  the  gate,  and  the  first  thing  I  knew  I 
was  on  the  outside  and  she  had  smiled  and 
said,  "Good-day,  Mr.  Holworthy." 

That  bonnet,  old  man,  and  the  ribbon  under 
her  chin,  as  I  am  a  sinner !  Why  are  we  not 
partners  in  everything?  Never  mind,  old 
chum ;  perhaps  we  will  be,  yet ! 

What  shall  I  do  with  the  ninety  dollars  ? 

As  ever  and  always,  yours,       .  • 

JACK. 


114  FORBES  OF  HARVARb. 

NUMBER  XXVIII. 

JOHN    HOLWORTHY    TO    ARTHUR    R.    FORBES. 

The  pendulum  swings  from  this  side  to  that. 
Misery  again  the  portion  of  Holworthy.  Miss 
Meredith  thinking  the  Mill  Company  Jias  paid 
dividends  informs  her  neighbor,  Mrs.  Peepson, 
to  that  effect.  Trouble  ahead.  "Does  the 
wagon  train  need  another  driver.  " 

CAMBRIDGE,  MASS.,  June  30,  1851. 
DEAR  ARTHUR : — 

I  wrote  you  yesterday  in  good  spirits,  and 
to-day  would  to  heaven  I  had  never  been  born  ! 
It  is  worse  than  ever  ;  but,  no  matter  what  hap 
pens,  I  will  tell  you  all.  With  you  I  must  be 
absolutely  frank  and  truthful.  If  I  ever  depart 
from  the  literal  fact,  it  is  that  good  may  ensue ; 
but  with  you  I  vary  not  even  in  the  estimation 
of  a  hair. 

V 

I  went  to  Concord  on  the  5.30  last  evening 
—  stopped  in  at  your  house.  Your  mother  is 
feeling  very  cheerful ;  but  the  goddess  Minerva 
was  in  the  city,  which  disappointed  me  a  little. 
Your  mother  told  me  an  awful  tale.  Aunt 
Marie,  we  well  know,  is  of  the  neurotic  tempera- 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  115 

ment,  and  she  is  so  crippled  she  cannot  get  out 
of  the  house.  Suffers  severe  pain,  constantly, 
through  the  sciatic  region. 

She  fears  her  garden  is  not  being  looked 
after ;  and,  in  fact,  worries  a  good  deal.  She 
has  always  been  so  active  and  energetic,  it 
seems  impossible  for  her  to  give  up,  at  all.  I 
did  not  go  to  see  her.  Your  mother  told  me 
what  I  write,  as  I  dare  not  go  and  look  our 
old  aunt  in  the  face. 

It  seems  that  Deacon  Peepson  has  some 
Livingston  stock,  too,  and  Mrs.  Peepson  was 
over,  sympathizing  with  Aunt  Marie :  "  La, 
Sister  Meredith,  troubles  never  come  singly. 
It  never  rains  but  it  pours.  The  hand  of  the 
Lord  falls  heavily  at  times  on  those  he  loves ; 
but  it  is  all  for  the  best."  And  Mrs.  Peepson 
covered  her  face  with  a  black-bordered  hand 
kerchief,  and  rocked  backward  and  forward  in 
the  splint-bottomed  chair.  I  am  giving  it  to 
you  straight,  old  man;  just  as  your  mother  told 
it  to  me.  I  want  you  to  know  the  case  exactly, 
so  as  to  make  a  correct  diagnosis. 

"Well,  if  you  want  to  tell  it  so  bad,  why  not 
out  with  it!"  blurted  out  your  aunt.  Mrs, 


116  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Peepson  put  on  her  shawl,  very  coldly  and  very 
calmly,  and  said:  "Well,  Sister  Meredith,  if 
this  is  the  way  you  are  going  to  treat  your  old 
neighbor  who  has  lived  nigh  you  for  thirty 
year,  and  been  a  true  friend  to  you,  I  guess  I 
will  go  home.  Excuse  me  for  troubling  you, 
Miss  Meredith."  Of  course  Aunt  Marie  called 
her  back,  and  told  her  the  pain  was  so  bad  she 
didn't  know  what  she  said,  and  asked  Mrs. 
Peepson  to  make  a  cup  of  tea  for  her,  and  one 
for  herself  at  the  same  time. 

Aunt  Marie  propped  herself  up  in  bed, 
the  hyson  thawed  Mrs.  Peepson  out  and 
over  the  tea-cups  she  told  all  about  the  Liv 
ingston  receivership,  and  more  too,  evidently. 
She  must  have  buzzed  away  for  nearly  an  hour 
when  stopping  suddenly  she  said,  "  But  you  know 
Sister  Meredith,  I  never  meddle  in  my  neigh 
bors'  affairs !" 

"  You  needn't  sympathize  with  me,  Mrs. 
Peepson,"  said  Aunt  Marie;  "I  got  my  dividend 
all  in  crisp  green  notes  —  a  day  or  so  late, 
perhaps;  but  they  were  so  busy  they  hadn't 
time  to  send  it  earlier.  The  next  one  may  be 
double  —  they  are  making  money,  right  along, 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  117 

You  get  your  information  from  the  news 
papers  ;  when  you  see  a  thing  in  the  papers  it 
is  a  sure  sign  it  isn't  so.  I  never  read  the 
horrid  things ;  I  get  my  information  from 
friends  who  can  tell  the  truth." 

"What!"  shrieked  Mrs.  Peepson,  as  she 
bounced  out  of  the  splint-bottomed  chair,  upset 
ting  the  blue  tea-pot.  "You  got  your  dividend, 
did  you,  and  my  husband  did  not  get  his  ?  He 
promised  me  the  money  when  it  came  —  over  a 
hundred  dollars  —  and  here  I  have  been  skimp 
ing  along  for  months  and  months,  expecting  it. 
Now,  why  should  they  pay  you,  and  send  out  to 
the  papers  that  lying  statement  about  having 
no  funds  ?  Just  answer  me  that,  Miss  Mere 
dith  ! " 

She  seemed  to  imagine,  in  her  wrath,  that  it 
was  Aunt  Marie  who  had  wronged  her.  Aunt 
Marie  saw  the  spout  was  broken  off  her  blue 
china  tea-pot,  and  she  can  use  very  tart  lan 
guage  anyway,  so  she  just  said,  "Well,  Sister 
Peepson"  (she  never  calls  any  one  sister  except 
when  mixing  in  tincture  of  iron) ;  "  Well,  Sister 
Peepson,  since  you  demand  that  I  shall  tell, 
allow  me  to  say  first'  that  I  am  a  poor,  crippled- 


118  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

up  old  maid,  with  no  income  except  my  mill 
stock.  They  know  this,  and,  having  some  pity 
in  their  hearts,  they  send  me  my  interest  money 
and  let  you  rich  folks  go.  Secondly  (as  the 
preachers  say),  your  man,  as  you  call  him,  has 
likely  got  the  dividend  all  right,  and  has  just 
lied  to  you  about  it.  No  man  yet  ever  kept 
his  promise.  Just  pour  me  another  cup,  Sister 
Peepson,  if  you  please,  while  you  are  all  wet. " 

The  tea-pot  lay  on  its  side  on  the  floor,  its 
nose  four  feet  away ;  Mrs.  Peepson  bounced 
out  of  the  house  with  a  slam,  saying,  "And  is 
this  what  one  gets  for  manifesting  a  neighborly 
spirit  ?  —  I'll  show  him !  " 

What  have  I  done!  What  have  I  done! 
Mrs.  Peepson  may  get  a  divorce  from  her  hus 
band...  Friendship  broken  between  Aunt  Marie 
and  the  Peepsons.  But  worse,  a  thousand 
times :  Honor  may  yet  know  it  all,  and  she 
will  know  I  am  a  liar.  I  am  a  L-I-A-R, 
and  she  will  know  it.  Tell  me  what  to 
do,  Arthur !  Do  they  need  an  extra  driver  in 
your  train  ?  God  help  me  !  —  I  can't  myself. 

JACK. 

P.  S.     I  got  my  degree  last  week.     Do  you 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  119 

think   I   could    start   a   good    practice  out    in 

Kansas  ?     Are  the  Indians  homoeopath  or  old- 
school  ? 


NUMBER  XXIX. 

HONOR  HAROLD  TO  ARTHUR  R.  FORBES. 

Dr.  Holworthys  disinterestedness  raises  him 
several  degrees  in  the  estimation  of  Miss  Har 
old.  The  doctor  tries  his  hand  at  gardening. 
Concord  Philosophy.  A  modern  Portia. 

CONCORD,  June  30,    1851. 
DEAR  MR.   FORBES:  — 

Your  former  room-mate,  Dr.  Hoi  worthy  of 
Cambridge,  was  here  yesterday  and  told  us 
that  he  had  just  received  a  long  letter  from 
you  wherein  you  stated  that  you  enjoyed  your 
work  greatly  —  was  prosperous,  and  that  your 
health  had  fully  returned.  This  is  most  joy 
ous  news  to  us  all,  and  I  cannot  refrain  from 
expressing  the  deep  pleasure  that  this  news 
has  brought. 

I  must  say  that  my  admiration  for  young 
Dr.  Holworthy  has  never  been  very  ex 
alted,  for  he  is  what  he  is ;  but  his  sincere 


120  .FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

satisfaction  in  your  happiness  raised  him  sev 
eral  degrees  in  my  estimation.  Besides  the 
good  news  from  you,  he  brought  the  dividend 
for  Miss  Meredith  on  her  stock  in  the  Living 
ston  Mill.  The  payment  has  been  deferred  fpr 
a  few  weeks,  for  some  reason  —  in  fact,  has  not 
been  paid  yet  —  but  Dr.  Holworthy  advanced  it 
out  of  his  own  pocket.  When  we  think  how 
scanty  his  means  are,  this  disinterested  action 
on  his  part,  to  help  the  dear  old  lady,  is  most 
touching. 

I  was  weeding  in  the  flowers  when  the  doc 
tor  came,  and  he  wished  to  assist  me;  so  he 
took  the  hoe,  as  he  said  he  "was  thirsty." 
(This  he  intended  as  a  joke  —  "Ho  !  every  one 
that  thirsteth."  You  will  observe  that  this  is 
a  fine  type  of  Holworthy  wit.)  Well,  he  hoed 
with  greater  unction  than  discrimination,  and  in 
five  minutes  managed  not  only  to  kill  all  the 
weeds  in  the  bed,  but  several  fine  dahlias  as 
well.  His  efforts  to  "set"  the  broken  stalks 
so  they  would  "heal  by  the  first  intention"  — 
and  principally  so  your  good  mother  would  not 
discover  his  bad  work  —  were  most  laughable. 

When  we  think  of  the  tender  sympathies  of 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  121 

Dr.  Holworthy,  the  short-comings  of  his  intel 
lect  are  blotted  from  our  minds.  It  is  the  old 
question  of  Heart  vs.  Intellect ;  and,  of  the 
two,  we  will  join  sides  with  the  former  —  will 
we  not,  my  friend  ? 

Mr.  Thoreau  came  last  week  and  worked  all 
day  in  the  garden.  We  had  dinner  under  the 
little  arbor  in  the  yard,  and  a  most  charming 
time  it  was !  Mr.  Thoreau  is  an  excellent 
talker  —  positive  and  to  the  point  —  but  talk  is 
not  conversation.  Conversation  requires  two, 
and  no  more:  it  is  a  mutuality  of  exalted 
thought  and  feeling. 

Thoreau  needs  only  a  good  listener,  who 
will,  by  a  single  word,  assent  or  differ  at  the 
right  time,  supplying  a  seed-thought  now  and 
then,  and  then  his  talk  is  charming. 

The  subject  was  the  use  of  Nature.  Mr. 
Thoreau  claims  that  behind  every  physical  fact 
is  a  spiritual  truth  —  that  the  universe  is  the 
expression  of  Mind,  and  that  Nature  is  for 
symbol.  She  gives  a  hint,  and  it  is  for  us  to 
ascertain  the  truth  ;  and  this  is  all  we  need,  for 
thus  are  we  led  on  and  on,  and  by  exercise  of 
our  faculties  we  grow.  We  do  not  want  things 


122  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

fully  explained ;  we  are  displeased  with  tautol 
ogy.  Truism  and  platitude  pall  on  us  and  all 
exaggeration  of  parts  and  "completion"  of 
things  in  art  we  turn  away  from. 

The  art  that  suggests  is  what  we  crave,  and 
so  Nature  wins  the  love  of  all  great  souls  by 
beckoning  them  onward  and  upward.  Yet  she 
never  fully  satisfies,  for  in  the  material  world 
there  can  never  be  complete  gratification. 
The  essence  of  things  is  spiritual  and  eludes 
our  complete  grasp.  You  know  full  well  the 
idea  I  would  convey :  doubtless  you  have  dis 
cussed  the  same  theme  with  Mr.  Thoreau,  and 
—  who  knows  —  possibly  he  obtained  his  seed- 
corn  from  your  granary ! 
With  regards,  I  am 

Your  friend, 

HONOR  HAROLD. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  123 

NUMBER  XXX. 

THANKFUL  PEEPSON  TO  JOHN  HOLWORTHY. 

Mr.  Peep  son,  having  stock  in  Livingston  Mill 
and  receiving  no  dividends,  demands  that  Dr. 
Holworthy,  who  has  paid  others,  shall  also 
pay  him. 

[Perhaps  we  should  not  blame  Mr.  Peepson 
for  making  this  request.  He  was  an  elderly 
gentleman  of  ample  means,  but  yet  of  such 
a  nature  that  he  could  not  imagine  anyone 
"  doing  good  by  stealth"  —  paying  money 
out  of  his  own  pocket  for  the  benefit  of  a 
friend  —  and  he  supposed,  of  course,  there 
was  some  under-handed  work  in  the  mill  man 
agement,  to  which  Holworthy  was  party ;  and 
if  he  could  only  induce  Holworthy  to  secure  his 
money,  the  same  as  Holworthy  had  done  for 
Miss  Meredith,  it  was  all  he  desired.  Such 
men  always  pride  themselves  on  their  sense  of 
"justice."] 

CONCORD,  July   10. 
J.  HOLWORTHY. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  I  have  three  thousand  seven 
hundred  dollars  stock  in  Livingston  Mill  Co., 
Lowell,  Mass.  Said  company  have  recently 
become  involved.  I  have  information  to  effect 
that  you  have  drawn  certain  dividends  from 


124  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

said  company,  for  certain  of  your  friends.  If 
you  have  power  to  do  this  for  one  person,  you 
have  for  another. 

The  paying  of  dividend  to  favored  persons 
forbidden  by  law  —  all  must  be  served  alike. 
Your  interference  in  matter  shows  you  to 
be  only  tool  of  others  and  constitutes  you 
party  to  the  crime. 

To  avoid  arrest,  mail  me  draft  $89.50, 
amount  of  my  dividend  due,  and  I  give  you  my 
promise  never  to  mention  your  name  in  any 
way  to  any  living  person.  Immediate  answer 
required  — all  action  deferred  until  I3th  inst. 
Yours  for  truth  and  justice, 

T.  PEEPSON. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  125 

NUMBER  XXXI. 

JOHN    HOLWORTHY    TO    THANKFUL     PEEPSON. 

Dr.  Holworthy  evidently  alarmed,  but  expresses 
himself  with  fierce  invective  and — sends  the 
money. 

[Some  folks  take  life  very  seriously  (forget 
ting  that  none  get  out  alive  anyway).  Holworthy 
was  one  of  these.  Instead  of  carrying  the  bur 
den  on  his  shoulder,  jauntily,  he  dragged  it  after 
him  by  a  rope,  and  made  a  heavy  and  complex 
job  of  what  should  have  been  a  simple  matter. 
A  wise  man  would  have  made  no  reply  to  Peep- 
son,  or  at  best  only  politely  refused  him. 
But  our  friend  worried  through  several  sleep 
less  nights  over  the  matter,  and  probably  wrote 
this  letter  with  much  sweat  and  lamp-smoke, 
expecting  the  epistle  would  sting  the  rhinoceros 
hide  of  Mr.  Peepson.] 

CAMBRIDGE,  July  n,    1851. 
THANKLESS  PEEPSON. 

THING  :  Your  vile  blackmailing  attempt  has 
been  safely  received,  and  has  served  to  light 
my  pipe. 

Horny-handed,  villainous  tiller  of  the  soil ! 
Black-hearted,  blinking  toad  !  I  do  now  spit 
upon  you  —  thus  ! 


126  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Where  gottest  thou  that  goose  look  ?  Am 
I  to  be  frightened  by  such  as  you — illiterate 
baboon  ?  Return  thou  to  thy  profession 
to  which  thou  art  called.  Go  haul  manure 
and  strew  over  the  fair  acres  which  thy  putrid 
breath  pollutes.  Better  still :  use  thy  foul  car 
cass  for  guano  to  raise  chuckle-burrs,  which  I 
will  sow  over  thy  grave !  Go  sell  thyself 
for  a  subject,  and  I  will  dissect  thee  for  a  mon 
strosity,  thou  accursed  phantom! — thou  vam 
pire  !  —  thou  incubus  !  —  child  of  death  !  Ass  ! 
You  cannot  frighten  me  !  But  you  ask  only  for 
money.  It  is  naught !  I  am  well  provided 
for  —  thank  heaven!  As  to  a  leprous  wretch 
by  the  roadside,  I  fling  you  now  this  draft,  for 
$89.50,  to  stop  the  vile  wagging  of  your  poison 
ous  tongue.  May  Pluto  gather  you  to  himself ! 
Scornfully, 
JOHN  HOLWORTHY.  M.  D. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  127 

NUMBER  XXXII. 

ARTHUR  R.  FORBES  TO  JOHN  HOLWORTHY. 

Forbes  loses  temper  when  he  finds  that  the  money 
he  sent  was  not  given  to  Miss  Harold  as 
requested. 

SALT  SPRINGS,  KANSAS  TERRITORY, 

July   10,    1851. 
JOHN  HOLWORTHY,   ESQ.  :  — 

You  wrote  asking  my  advice  in  a  certain 
matter,  and  I  sent  you  a  certain  sum  of  money, 
telling  you  how  I  desired  you  should  use  it. 
Instead  of  following  my  wishes,  you  do  some 
thing  entirely  different,  and  then  trouble  me 
with  long,  rambling  letters  on  irrelevant  themes, 
instead  of  simply  advising  me  that  you  had 
performed  your  duty. 

I  asked  you  to  take  my  money  (not  yours)  and 
buy  a  draft  with  it,  and  mail  it  to  a  certain  per 
son.  Did  you  do  it  ?  No !  You  still  have 
half  of  that  money  in  your  possession,  if  by 
this  time  you  have  not  lost  it.  Oh,  yes !  You 
will  pay  me  back,  of  course.  But,  sir,  I  do  not 
want  you  to  pay  it  back.  I  want  you  at  once 


128  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

to  purchase  a  draft  for  ninety  dollars,  at  the 
Hide  and  Leather  Bank  in  Boston,  and  mail  it, 
without  a  letter,  to  Miss  Honor  Harold,  at  Con 
cord,  Mass.  On  the  outside  of  the  envelope 
simply  write  these  words  :  From  John  Hoi- 
worthy,  Fool. 

I  see  no  necessity  for  you  calling  at  my 
mother's  residence  so  often  ;  she  is  well  looked 
after  without  your  assistance. 

I  am,  sir,  most  respectfully, 

ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES. 


NUMBER  XXXIII. 

J.    HOLWORTHY    TO    ARTHUR   R.   FORBES. 

Holworthy  very  brave  at  long  distance.  Wrath- 
fully  resents  tJic  imptttdtion  that  Miss  Harold 
may  lose;  for  has  he  not  given  her  his 
note?  Former  friends  now  foes.  Woman 
the  cause -,  as  has  happened  before. 

CAMBRIDGE,  July  12,   1851. 
A.  R.  FORBES,  MULETEER. 

SIR  :    I  have  this  day  mailed  an  envelope  to 
Miss  Honor  as  requested.     On  the  outside  of 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  129 

the  envelope  I  wrote  nothing,  but  on  the  inside 
I  sent  a  cordial  letter.  I  also  sent  my  note  at 
sixty  days,  for  ninety  dollars  with  interest  —  say 
ing  the  amount  was  due  her,  and  therefore 
enclosed.  I  sent  my  compliments  and  best 
wishes,  and  hoped  she  was  well  and  happy. 
I  am  going  up  to  Concord  to  see  her,  Sunday, 
and  will  call  at  your  mother's  home.  Mrs. 
Prudence  Forbes  is  a  perfect  lady ;  but  I  much 
regret  that  her  son  reminds  me  of  the  Venus  de 
Milo  —  neither  is  a  gentleman. 
Sir,  believe  me,  I  am  ever 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  HOLWORTHY,  M.  D. 

P.  S.  Was  obliged  to  use  the  money  for  a 
friend,  but  of  course  will  meet  the  note  when 
due.  Just  before  you  left  you  made  me  prom 
ise  I  would  go  to  see  your  mother  once  a  week; 
now,  when  out  of  the  kindness  of  my  heart  I 
go  twice  a  week  instead  of  once,  you  insult 
me ! 

P.  S.  No.  2.  I  lit  my  pipe  with  your  last  let 
ter  as  soon  as  I  read  it. 


130  FORBES  OP  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  XXXIV. 

ARTHUR    RIPLEY    FORBES    TO    JOHN    HOLWORTHY. 

Forbes  too  sensible  to  mirse  wrath.  The  strong 
can  always  afford  to  apologise.  Tries  to  phi 
losophize  on  the  question  of  affinities. 

ON  THE  TRAIL, 
KANSAS  TERRITORY,  July  23. 
MY  DEAR  JACK:  — 

You  wrote  me  a  very  pointed  epistle.  It  was 
excellent,  and  knowing  you  enjoy  good  things  I 
mail  it  back  in  this.  You  see  I  have  marked 
it  98,  and  would  have  given  you  a  hundred  had 
you  dotted  your  Fs. 

We  write  sharp  letters,  old  chum,  and  they 
reach  their  destination  days  after,  when  all  par 
ties  have  likely  forgotten  the  circumstances. 
The  offensive  letter  comes  like  a  kicking  mule 
in  a  corral.  It  is  an  excellent  plan  to  write 
caustic  letters,  dipping  the  pen  in  aqua  fortis 
(if  seventy-four  per  cent,  caustic  alkali  cannot 
be  had);  then  take  a  letter-press  copy,  and  throw 
the  original  in  the  waste  basket.  Read  the  let 
ter-press  copy  next  day,  and  you  will  thank 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  131 

heaven  for  having  blessed  you  with  a  waste 
basket.  Let  us  try  this  plan  hereafter.  But, 
come  to  think,  just  at  present  my  office  is  neither 
supplied  with  waste  basket  nor  letter  press  —  so 
I  will  have  to  forego  the  aqua  fortis. 

We  pull  up  stakes  in  ten  minutes,  so  I  will 
not  write  you  a  long  letter.  I  wish  you  could 
see  the  acres  and  acres  of  sunflowers  on  these 
prairies.  They  follow  the  sun  around  from 
the  extreme  east  to  the  west,  and  then  face  about 
in  the  night  to  greet  old  Sol  in  the  morning. 
He  comes  up  now  right  straight  over  Harvard 
Square. 

About  Miss  Harold :  She  is  a  fine  soul,  my 
mother  says ;  but  don't  you  think,  dear  chum, 
she  is  so  different  from  you  that  it  would  be 
impossible  for  her  to  reciprocate  your  feelings? 
You  are  a  fine  character,  too  —  you  have  a 
future,  I  am  sure  —  but  then  you  are  different ! 
You  will  not  misunderstand  me!  Of  course 
my  mother  is  always  glad  to  see  you,  and  I 
want  you  to  go  to  see  her  often,  and  it  is  per 
fectly  right  and  proper  you  should  enjoy  a  lit 
tle  visit  with  Miss  Harold  at  the  same  time. 
But,  Jack,  please  do  not  annoy  the  lady  by  try- 


132  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

ing  to  make  love  to  her.  You  cannot  "  make 
love"  anyway.  Love  is  a  spark  of  the  Divine, 
and  all  emotions  of  true  love  are  reciprocal. 
It  is  a  reflex  action  of  Feeling  (you  see  I  use 
the  capital) ;  an  echoing  back  from  heart  to 
heart,  with  this  difference  in  the  simile  —  an 
echo  dies  away,  but  love  increases  by  action 
and  reaction.  If  your  regard  for  her  has  the 
ring  of  true  metal,  she  must  also  experience  a 
like  emotion,  and  needs  must  express  it. 

Expression  is  necessary  to  life.  In  fact,  all 
life  is  expression  of  Mind.  Now,  if  Miss  Harold 
does  not  echo  back  your  feelings,  as  a  matter  of 
course  you  will  only  pain  her  by  forcing  the  ten 
der  sentiment  on  her  attention ;  and  I  know,  if 
you  respect  her,  you  will  endeavor  to  make 
things  agreeable  for  her  —  not  otherwise.  My 
old  chum  is  too  sensible  to  take  exceptions  to 
what  I  write  him,  but  will  always  believe  me  to 
be 

His  sincere  friend, 

ARTHUR  R.  FORBES. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  133 

NUMBER  XXXV. 

JOHN  HOLWORTHY  TO  ARTHUR  R.  FORBES. 

The  doctor  is  melted  by  the  kindness  of  his 
friend.  Coals  of  fire.  More  about  affinities 
from  another  point  of  view.  "  Women  do 
not  know  their  own  minds.  Faint  heart"  etc. 

CAMBRIDGE,  Aug.   15,   1852. 
MY  DEAR  OLD  CHUM:  — 

I  got  your  letter ;  in  it  was  enclosed  another. 
The  writing  looked  like  mine  but  I  never 
penned  it.  Some  scoundrel  with  heart  as  black 
as  Erebus  forged  it.  None  but  a  villain  could 
have  written  it.  Who  says  I  wrote  it  ?  He 
is  a  liar!  Would  I  write  to  my  manly  Arthur 
an  insulting  epistle  ?  How  could  I,  except  I 
were  drunk  or  mad.  My  Arthur  of  the  Round 
Table  is  the  only  friend  I  have.  Without  him, 
to  whom  could  I  turn  ?  He  it  was  who  whipped 
two  Irishmen  when  they  waylaid  us  on 
the  bridge,  and  had  me  down.  Who  but  he 
made  me  cram  for  "  Zam,"  and  thus  got  me  97 
when  I  deserved  to  be  plucked.  The  smart 
est,  bravest,  tallest  and  best  man  who  ever 


134  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

kicked  a  football.  He  knows  all  things  save 
the  art  of  love ;  in  this  he  is  at  sea,  for  he  has  not 
experienced  —  and  what  care  I  for  the  smooth 
logic  of  even  his  cool  head,  when  talking  of 
that  which  he  has  not  felt ! 

Speaking  of  the  different  methods  of  expres 
sion,  you  may  not  believe  it,  but  I  once  act 
ually  proposed  to  a  girl  with  my  feet.  I  was 
dead  in  love  with  her,  and  we  were  playing 
euchre.  I  was  wondering  how  I  would  tell  her 
of  my  passion,  when  all  at  once  I  proposed  by 
touching  her  feet  with  mine  under  the  table. 
She  understood  and  answered  back,  begging 
for  time  to  consider  —  it  was  so  sudden.  I 
insisted  on  an  immediate  answer,  and  she  said 
she  would  be  a  sister  to  me.  I  telegraphed: 
"Never!  You  must  be  mine."  And  she  then 
accepted,  and  the  day  was  set.  All  the  while 
we  were  raking  in  the  tricks :  we  beat  her 
father  and  mother  in  the  game,  two  to  five.  A 
few  weeks  after,  I  was  over  to  the  house  again, 
having  a  little  game ;  and,  as  before,  was  tele 
graphing  with  my  feet.  All  at  once  the  old 
lady  gave  a  scream,  kicked  over  the  table,  and 
swore  I  was  treading  with  my  whole  weight  on 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  135 

her  favorite  corn.  I  denied  it ;  and,  to  change 
the  subject,  charged  her  and  the  old  man  with 
cheating.  The  old  gent  grew  furious  and 
called  me  an  insolent  puppy.  I  called  him  a 
dough-faced  old  codger,  and  hinted  at  his  fam 
ily  record  in  a  way  that  was  more  than  he 
could  stand  :  he  collared  me  then  and  there, 
and  bounced  me  bodily  down  the  front  steps  — 
the  girl  all  the  time  crying  and  clinging  to  my 
neck,  trying  to  save  me.  It  was  no  use  —  the 
old  man  was  too  mad  to  reason  with,  and  my 
overcoat,  hat  and  cane  were  flung  into  the 
street  after  me.  I  was  rather  glad  the  thing 
turned  out  as  it  did,  for  the  engagement  was 
getting  a  trifle  monotonous  anyway;  so  I  just 
wrote  the  young  lady  the  next  day,  and  told 
her  the  family  temper  in  her  tribe  was  just  a 
little  more  than  I  could  stand  —  that  I  had  a 
good  deal  of  "beezum"  myself,  and  for  the 
sake  of  posterity  we  must  call  the  engagement 
off  and  live  but  to  forget. 

The  latter  part  of  this  true  story  is  perhaps 
irrelevant  to  the  question  in  hand ;  but  I  tell  it 
to  show  you  there  are  other  modes  of  commun- 


136  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

icating  thought  besides  words,  hand-clasps  and 
glance  of  eyes. 

Yes,  Arthur;  we  are  not  alike  —  that  is  why  I 
love  her !  It  is  right  and  proper  that  a  man 
should  select  for  a  wife  a  woman  who  will 
round  out  the  weak  points  in  his  own  charac 
ter.  She  is  away  above  and  beyond  me,  every 
way ;  but  would  you  have  me  choose  a  woman 
beneath  me?  You,  yourself,  have  said  that 
when  a  man  and  woman  who  are  unequal  in 
mental  and  spiritual  make-up,  marry,  there 
is  a  compromise  —  a  meeting  half-way.  Thus 
you  admit  that,  if  I  marry  her,  there  will  be  a 
great  growth  in  my  intellectual  stature.  Then, 
again,  you  are  wrong  about  the  reciprocity. 
Among  all  animals  the  male  seeks  his  mate  — 
this  is  nature.  Do  you  think  a  modest 
woman  would  give  herself  away  by  letting  a 
man  know  she  thought  anything  of  him  ?  Not 
much  !  You  only  show  your  ignorance.  It  is 
a  part  of  woman's  plan ;  they  want  to  be 
wooed,  and  wooed,  and  after  a  long  siege  they 
are  won.  A  woman  delights  in  being  courted ; 
and  half  the  time  a  girl  never  knows  her  own 
mind,  and  it  is  the  business  of  the  lover  to  edu- 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  137 

cate  her  in  matters  of  love.  What  a  delightful 
occupation !  Old  man,  I  have  a  notion  of 
adopting  it  as  a  profession,  instead  of  medi 
cine  !  No,  Arthur ;  it  is  the  persistent  lover 
who  wins.  "  Faint  heart  never  won  fair  lady." 

When  the  Lord  feels  dissatisfied  with  his 
work  (as  I  am  sure  he  often  does,  when  he 
thinks  of  some  of  the  men  he  has  made),  he 
simply  opens  one  of  the  windows  of  heaven 
and  takes  a  look  at  my  tall  Iris. 

I  saw  her  Thursday.  She  is  rather  hard  to 
get  thoroughly  awake  on  any  subject  —  a  little 
absent  minded.  I  think  she  broods  over  her 
father's  death,  and  to  cheer  her  up  I  read  her 
one  of  your  letters.  Not  the  last,  bless  you !  — 
hardly.  It  was  the  one  in  which  you  told  of 
Gooseberry  Jake.  After  I  read  it  she  smiled 
and  I  never  saw  her  look  so  handsome.  "  Let 
me  see  it,"  she  said.  She  took  it  in  her 
beautiful  hands  and  read  part  of  it  to  herself, 
and  then  she  sighed. 

I  guess  this  sigh  was  at  some  of  your  pa 
thetic  strokes.  You  will  get  in  something  that 
almost  brings  the  tears  —  right  along  with  your 
jokes,  you  old  rascal ! 


138  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

I  am  filling  in  vacation  at  the  drug  store  in 
Cambridgeport,  and  grinding  away  at  the  books, 
with  clinic  over  in  Boston  every  Saturday. 

JACK. 


NUMBER  XXXVI. 

MRS.  FORBES  TO  ARTHUR  R.  FORBES. 

Dr.  Peabody  is  sure  the  medicine  cured.  Mrs. 
Forbes  has  another  opinion.  The  cat  may  be 
sent  from  home.  A  funeral  at  the  little  house 
by  the  railroad. 

FRIDAY  NIGHT. 
MY  DEAR  BOY  :  — 

I  am  rejoiced  to  know  that  you  are  so  much 
better.  I  met  Dr.  Peabody  to-day  and  told  him 
how  well  you  are.  He  said  he  knew  the  medi 
cine  would  cure  you.  For  my  own  part,  Arthur, 
I  cannot  help  believing  it  was  in  answer  to  our 
prayers.  I  did  not  tell  the  doctor  so.  He  is 
a  nice  man. 

He  was  with  me,  you  remember,  when  you 
were  born.  After  a  woman  has  had  a  doctor 
at  such  a  time  he  always  seems  like  one  of  her 
own  folks  ever  after.  Perhaps  it  was  the  earn- 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  139 

est  prayers  and  the  medicine  too.  Dr.  Peabody 
does  not  believe  much  in  praying  for  the  sick. 
He  said  to  me  once,  if  a  man  needed  an  emetic, 
a  half  ounce  of  ipecac  was  worth  a 'ton  of 
prayer.  I  fear  he  has  been  corrupted  by  the 
unbelief  of  this  place.  It's  no  use  arguing 
with  men,  though ;  they  have  no  sense.  If  Dr. 
Peabody  gets  sick  himself,  he  will  send  for  a 
preacher  the  first  thing.  Such  men  always  do. 

Our  cat  caught  two  of  the  young  robins. 
He  may  get  to  killing  the  chickens  next.  If 
he  does  I  will  surely  give  him  away,  although 
you  brought  him  here  yourself  six  years  ago. 
I  cannot  afford  to  have  my  chickens  caught. 
What  is  more,  I  will  not  stand  it,  either. 

Honor  has  helped  me  make  over  my  black 
dress.  We  left  the  skirt  just  the  same,  but 
added  a  plain  flounce  at  the  bottom,  of  some 
stuff  she  had  in  her  trunk.  But  the  waist  — 
why,  I  hardly  think  you  would  know  it  at  all. 

If  I  see  the  cat  prowling  around  after  the 
chickens,  I  have  decided  we  will  put  him  in  a 
bag,  and  Honor  and  I  will  carry  him  off,  clear 
over  the  hill,  some  night,  by  Peepson's,  and  turn 


140  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

him  loose;  and  of  course,  if  he  goes  to  Peep- 
son's  house,  it  will  not  be  our  fault. 

The  bonnet  I  got  when  your  father  died 
looked  pretty  bad,  but  Honor  fixed  it  over  for 
me  so  it  looks  like  new.  We  are  going  down 
to  Boston  to  church  next  Sunday.  She  is  the 
handiest  person  I  ever  saw.  Do  you  think  I 
ought  to  charge  her  $2.50  a  week?  It  seems 
too  much,  when  she  helps  me  so,  all  the  time. 

For  our  chapter  last  night,  Honor  read  to 
me  from  Epistle  of  John,  iv,  1-20.  Read  it, 
Arthur,  from  the  little  Bible  I  put  in  your 
trunk.  One  verse  I  remember  is — "He  that 
loveth  not,  knoweth  not  God,  for  God  is  love." 
I  think  Honor  reads  better  than  our  preacher 
—  not  so  loud,,  but  with  more  feeling.  Another 
verse  was — "There  is  no  fear  in  love,  for  per 
fect  love  casteth  out  fear." 

Did  I  tell  you  how  we .  borrowed  Smith's 
wheelbarrow  and  cut  sod  ourselves  for  little 
Martha's  grave  ?  Another  verse  Honor  read 
was  —  "God  sent  his  only  begotten  son."  She 
said  she  thought  it  was  because  God  loved  me 
that  he  sent  me  such  a  son.  Yes ;  I  believe  it 
must  be  so.  You  have  not  told  me,  but  I 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  141 

believe  you  have  really  given  your  heart  to 
Jesus.  Your  letters  are  not  so  trifling  as  they 
used  to  be  when  you  were  at  college. 

There  has  been  lots  of  sickness  here  lately. 
The  family  that  moved  into  one  of  Murphy's 
houses,  down  by  the  railroad,  had  three  chil 
dren  die  of  diphtheria,  all  in  one  week.  They 
are  very  poor  people.  The  neighbors  were  all 
afraid  to  go  near,  as  it  is  so  awful  catching. 
They  buried  two  of  the  children  in  the  night. 
Honor  heard  about  it,  and  went  at  once  to  see 
them,  the  day  the  last  one  died.  She  was  the 
first  woman  who  had  been  in  the  house  for 
three  weeks.  The  mother  begged  her  to  read 
a  chapter  and  pray.  They  did  not  bury  this 
one  in  the  night.  No  preacher  dare  go  to  the 
funeral,  so  Honor  preached  a  little  sermon, 
about  ten  minutes,  and  read  and  prayed.  She 
was  the  only  woman  besides  the  mother  at  the 
funeral. 

I  have  four  pair  of  new  stockings  for  you. 
Tell  me  how  soon  you  will  be  home. 
Yours  truly, 

PRUDENCE  FORBES. 


142  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  XXXVII. 

JOHN    HOLWORTHY    TO    ARTHUR    R.    FORBES. 

Holworthy  goes  to  Concord  for  botanical  speci 
mens.  Enlists  the  assistance  of  Honor 
Harold  and  Miss  Hosmer.  A  triangular 
picnic.  Murphy  s  misJiap.  Botany  vs. 
Geology.  Dr.  Holworthy  records  his  success, 
but  forgets  the  botanical  specimen,  which  will 
necessitate  another  visit. 

[The  patience  shown  by  Mr.  Forbes  in 
receiving  and  answering  such  letters  as  this  — 
several  of  which  I  have  not  thought  it  worth 
while  to  publish  —  can  only  be  accounted  for, 
by  presuming  that  his  faith  in  Miss  Harold  was 
invincible  and  the  letters  from  Holworthy  were 
merely  diverting.] 

CAMBRIDGE,  MASS.,  Tuesday  Evening. 
DEAR  OLD  CHUM  :  — 

A  hazy,  lazy  autumn  day  —  leaves  turning 
yellow  ;  they  fall  fluttering  to  the  ground  like 
wounded  birds.  And  such  an  indefinite, 
dreamy  look  to  the  landscape  —  like  the  sweet 
face  of  a  bride,  as  you  catch  sight  of  it  through 
her  veil ;  you  do  not  know  whether  she  is  crying 
(just  a  wee  bit )  or  smiling.  We  do  not  want  to 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  143 

see  things  too  plainly,  old  man.  (I  never  did 
see  my  lessons  very  clearly  —  the  best  truth  is 
always  a  trifle  misty.) 

I  believe  the  charm  of  these  Indian-summer 
days  is  the  fact  that  our  senses  are  kind  of 
dulled  and  lulled,  as  by  a  two-grain  opium  pill; 
a  sort  of  somniferous  effect,  so  that  one  goes 
straight  to  heaven  without  the  formality  of 
Gabriel's  bugle  and  the  Judgment-day  racket. 

They  say  the  wicked  shall  not  enter  the 
kingdom ;  but  by  the  great  Paracelsus !  I  had 
a  clear  look  inside  the  portals  to-day  —  and, 
confidentially,  old  chum,  it's  as  good  as  settled. 

I  am  greatly  interested  in  botany  —  or  the 
Goddess  thinks  I  am,  which  is  just  as  well.  I 
went  up  to  Concord  early  this  morning ;  walked 
straight  to  your  mother's,  and  asked  the  tall 
Minerva  if  she  could  tell  me  where  I  could  find 
a  good  specimen  of  Aralia  Ntidicauhis  for  our 
herbarium  at  Cambridge.  It  worked,  old  man  ; 
and  she  brightened  up  and  said  ;  "Why,  yes;  I 
will  show  you  !  Miss  Hosmer  and  I  are  going 
that  way ;  we  will  be  glad  to  have  your  com 
pany."  Pulse  jumped  to  98  by  my  watch,  as 
she  put  on  her  hat  and  a  funny  little  jacket. 


144  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

You  are  right,  Arthur ;  a  woman  will  express 
her  feelings,  if  you  only  give  her  time  —  they 
can't  hold  back  always.  She  seemed  so  pleased 
to  see  me ;  asked  me  to  go,  too,  mind  you  !  — 
asked  me  to  go,  and  said  she  would  be  thankful 
for  my  company.  And  it  would  have  been 
heaven  complete,  if  it  had  not  been  for  this 
friend  who  was  with  her !  This  Miss  Daisy 
Hosmer  is  just  a  young  thing,  awfully  sweet, 
and  sort  of  come-and-catch-me  appearance, 
but  talks  in  riddles  and  parables.  I  couldn't 
exactly  make  her  out.  She  walked  ahead,  and 
left  Honor  and  me  alone  part  of  the  time.  I 
guess  Honor  told  her  to ;  and  I  took  the  oppor 
tunity  to  say,  "  I  wish  life  were  one  long 
picnic  like  this."  She  was  very  jolly  and  said, 
"Why,  it  was  just  what  I  was  going  to  say  — 
we  three  on  an  eternal  picnic.  Yes;  how 
sublime." 

"Or  just  you  and  me,"  I  added.  "Why, 
truly,  how  subHme  —  or  you  alone ! "  And  she 
called  to  Daisy,  who  hoodooed  the  interview, 
and  came  back  to  dig  up  a  flower. 

Each  of  the  girls  had  a  trowel,  and  I  carried 
two  baskets,  a  bag,  a  spade,  and  an  ax.  I  was 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  145 

loaded  to  the  gunwales,  and  they  kept  digging 
stuff  and  putting  in  the  baskets.  By  and  by, 
Miss  Hosmer  got  a  geological  fit,  and  began  to 
gather  specimens.  "Oh!  the  trilobite  —  the 
lovely  trilobite !  What  a  nice  piece  of  gneiss  ! 
Oh  !  look  at  the  feldspar !  "  And  the  stones 
began  rattling  down  into  that  bag. 

"  It  does  not  make  you  tired,  does  it  ? "  said 
Miss  Hosmer;  "you  are  so  strong!" — and  she 
dropped  in  a  young  bowlder  from  the  miocene 
period.  "Oh,  no,"  said  I;  "I  only  wish  you 
had  brought  along  a  bed-tick.  We  would  have 
filled  it  full." 

Finally  we  came  to  a  ploughed  field,  and 
they  wanted  to  look  for  Indian  arrows ;  so  they 
tramped  me  over  the  fields  about  seven  miles, 
and  I  sank  to  my  knees,  nearly,  at  every  step. 
We  finally  got  over  to  Walden  Lake  and  put 
our  things  in  Henry's  cabin.  He  was  not  at 
home.  You  know  he  never  locks  the  door  — 
nothing  but  a  latch  —  anyone  can  lift  it  and 
walk  in.  His  boat  was  there,  and  I  put  one  of 
the  girls  in  each  end,  with  Honor  facing  me, 
and  what  a  row  we  had  !  I  never  saw  her  so 
pleasant,  She  laughed  at  all  my  jokes,  and, 


146  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

when  I  told  them  about  how  you  swam  out  into 
Charles  River,  to  rescue  old  Murphy,  whose 
boat  had  upset,  she  asked  me  to  tell  it  over 
again  —  all  about  how  you  sat  the  old  man 
astride  of  the  upturned  boat,  and  swam 
behind  and  pushed  him  ashore;  how  the 
people  on  the  bank  thought  it  was  old  Neptune 
on  a  dolphin's  back,  coming  in  state,  and  they 
cheered  and  asked  him  what  he  had  done  with 
his  trident.  How  they  did  laugh  !  Then  we 
went  back  and  had  supper  on  the  bank. 

Henry  and  Daisy  got  into  quite  an  argu 
ment,  for  which  I  was  very  thankful ;  for  I 
improved  the  time  by  telling  the  tall  Iris  of 
how  I  intended  to  go  in  with  Dr.  Peabody,  who 
is  certainly  not  immortal,  and  some  day  I 
would  have  his  whole  practice.  I  said,  "You 
know,  Miss  Harold,  a  physician  in  a  village  like 
Concord,  cannot  hope  to  get  a  large  family 
practice  unless  he  has  a  wife!"  "Why,  just 
what  I  was  going  to  say ! "  said  she,  and  she 
began  skimming  our  geological  specimens 
across  the  water.  She  is  very  absent  minded, 
and  must  have  thrown  away  half,  without  once 
thinking  what  she  was  doing.  I  just  kept  quiet 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  147 

and  let  her  throw,  although  it  did  break  in  on 
our  conversation.  When  we  got  back  to  your 
mother's,  the  girls  both  thanked  me  and  shook 
hands  so  gratefully,  and  asked  me  to  come  again. 

I'm  solid  there,  old  chum  —  make  no  mistake ! 
These  things  require  time  to  work  up.  The 
world  wasn't  made  in  a  day.  I  went  away 
without  my  specimen  of  Aralia — forgot  all 
about  it.  Absent  minded,  you  see  —  it  must  be 
catching.  Well,  anything  I  can  catch  from  her 
I  will  be  thankful  for,  even  to  eczema. 

Your  letters  are  wonderfully  interesting. 
Tell  me  more  about  your  experience  —  it  is  all 
so  new  and  strange  to  us  here. 

I  will  have  to  go  back  after  my  Aralia  Nud- 
icaulus,  next  Saturday,  I  suppose. 

JACK. 

P.  S.  For  myself,  I  do  not  take  much  stock 
in  womankind  ;  for  who  can  tell  whether  what 
tulle  suggests  be  real,  or  that  which  padded  silk 
parades  be  false  ? 


148  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  XXXVIII. 

ARTHUR  R.  FORBES  TO  MISS  HONOR  HAROLD. 

"Read  between  the  lines"      The  first  view  of 
the  Rockies.     Poetic  prose. 

CAMP  UNREST,  KANSAS  TERRITORY, 

Aug.  1 6,  1851. 
MY  FRIEND  :  — 

Once  upon  a  time,  a  thousand  years  ago  (or 
was  it  yesterday?),  you  told  me  not  to  write  to 
you,  for  you  would  read  the  letters  I  sent  to 
our  mother.  In  these  letters  to  her,  you  have 
read  between  the  lines,  receiving  the  messages 
I  meant  for  you.  In  each  letter  you  have  seen 
a  growing  tendency  to  write  beyond  what  the 
good  woman  could  comprehend.  Knowing 
that  you  would  read  the  letter,  I  must  needs 
restrain  myself ;  for  before  my  inward  eye  arose 
your  image,  and  so  I  gave  you  the  message,  not 
her.  There  is  a  necessity  in  our  natures  which 
demands  that  we  shall  express  that  which  is 
within ;  and  so,  my  gentle  lady,  I  offer  no 
excuse  for  writing  this  my  first  letter  to  you, 
trusting  wholly  that  your  strong  good-sense 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  149 

will  show  you  how,  loving  my  mother  as  I  do, 
when  I  write  to  her  I  must  have  before  me  her 
image :  listening  intently,  as  we  know  she  does 
—  knitting,  perhaps  —  keeping  time  with  mov 
ing  lips  and  nod  of  head. 

Do  you  think  the  love  for  our  parents  can 
ever  be  replaced  by  another  ?  Should  not  love 
give  the  capacity  for  love  ?  All  other  faculties 
grow  by  exercise,  why  not  this  ?  And  so,  you 
see,  I  am  writing  you  this  letter  that  I  may  be 
free  —  free  to  write  to  her  and  to  write  to  you. 
Equally  important  is  it  that  I  may  express  to 
you  what  my  heart  prompts.  With  you  I  can 
think  aloud  and  you  will  not  misconstrue.  You 
will  put  the  best  construction  on  my  thought, 
and  echo  it  back  to  me  in  a  clearer  and  sweeter 
tone.  Since  I  received  your  first  letter  the 
tide  has  been  coming  in,  and  I  have,  to-day,  life 
in  abundance.  It  is  a  joy  to  be  alive ;  and  it 
seemed  that  if  I  did  not  write  you  this  message, 
just  to  thank  you  for  what  you  have  done  for 
me,  the  day's  duties  would  not  be  done. 

We  are  encamped  in  a  beautiful  valley,  on 
the  banks  of  a  running  stream.  There  are 
only  a  few  trees  near;  but  the  boundless  prairie 


150  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

fills  me  with  a  sense  of  sublimity.  The  waving 
grass  stretches  off  miles  upon  miles,  and,  as  the 
summer  winds  play  over  it,  it  seems  to  rise  and 
fall  like  the  waves  of  the  sea.  To  the  west  is 
a  mass  of  low  white  clouds.  There  they  stay  — 
sublime,  clear  as  marble  in  outline.  They  have 
not  changed  since  yesterday.  I  called  the 
attention  of  a  companion  to  them  —  "Why, 
those  are  the  Rocky  Mountains,"  said  he. 

If  your  heart  prompts,  write  to  me  at  Fort 
Denver. 

With  sincere  respect  and  high  regard  I  am, 
Yours, 

ARTHUR  R.  FORBES. 


PART  TWO. 
INTRODUCTION. 

C  VIDENTLY  there  are  letters  missing  which 
should  go  in  here,  for  this  full,  frank  con 
fession  of  the  heart  must  have  been  preceded 
by  something  more  formal ;  but  as  the  epistles 
are  lost  I  must  beg  the  reader  to  bridge  the 
gap  with  his  imagination. 

In  the  letters  of  Mr.  Forbes,  prior  to  this  cor 
respondence  with  Miss  Harold,  few  traces  of 
spirituality  are  to  be  found.  This  love  seemed 
to  add  cubits  to  his  stature,  and  to  have  aroused 
a  poetic  side  of  his  nature,  which  none  knew 
he  possessed :  not  the  first  man,  perhaps,  who 
has  been  nudged  out  of  sleep  by  Cupid,  and 
been  led  on  to  better  things  by  the  light  of  the 
little  god's  torch. 

A  large  number  of  these  love  letters  are  in 
my  possession,  but  I  give  only  a  few,  merely  to 
151 


152  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

show  the  quality  of  mind  which  this  man  and 
woman  possessed. 

Many  of  these  epistles  seem  to  open  very 
abruptly,  but  lovers  evidently  have  some  occult 
way  of  knowing  what  will  be  deemed  proper 
and  what  not.  I  leave  this  to  the  experienced, 
and  will  say  that,  of  all  written  words,  the  let 
ters  of  wise  men  and  women  are  best.  They 
are  more  natural  than  oratory,  more  advised 
than  conversation,  and  show  the  heart  of  the 
writer  as  love  and  friendship  only  can  call  it 
forth.  It  is  the  tendency  of  all  strong  feeling 
to  dwell  constantly  on  the  same  thought  —  to 
be  monotonous  —  and  the  oft-repeated  vows  and 
verbal  endearments  which  generally  fill  love 
letters,  make  them  unsuited  for  any  save  the 
one  to  whom  they  are  directed.  But  in  these 
letters  of  Mr.  Forbes  to  Miss  Harold,  and  Miss 
Harold  to  Mr.  Forbes,  I  find  much  that  is  of 
poetic  and  philosophic  value,  and  the  tenderness 
often  shown  I  am  sure  will  strike  a  sympathetic 
chord  in  the  hearts  of  all  "who  love  a  lover." 

I  should  judge  that  no  attempt  was  made,  on 
the  part  of  this  peculiar  pair,  to  "answer"  let 
ters  ;  they  wrote  when  they  felt  inclined  —  every 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  153 

day,  or  once  a  week,  as  the  spirit  moved.  Any 
theme  which  was  in  the  heart  of  the  writer 
found  expression.  In  most  of  these  epistles 
all  formality  of  place,  date  or  name  is  omitted  ; 
the  addition  of  signature  being  found  only  a 
few  times  in  the  several  hundred  letters  from 
which  these  are  selected. 


154  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER    XXXIX. 

MISS    HAROLD    TO    MR.    FORBES. 

With  the  man  of  dull  susceptibility  and 
strong  animal  nature  there  may  be  much  force 
at  times,  but  with  the  force  so  excited  dies  the 
result.  There  is  no  reaction.  But  the  man  who 
is  full  of  soul-life  —  who  has  the  poetic  nature  — 
the  force  exerted  may  be  slight,  but  the  reaction 
is  great.  We  are  cursed  or  blessed  by  reaction. 
Our  lives  to-day  are  what  they  are  on  account 
of  what  has  gone  before.  Dull  men  may  meet 
and  part,  but  to  us  the  meeting  of  an  individ 
ual  who  is  our  peer  is  an  event  of  great  impor 
tance.  How  the  acts  of  our  lives  now  stand 
out  before  us  and  make  or  mar.  The  value  of 
the  act  is  not  in  the  act,  but  in  the  reaction. 
It  is  not  what  you  say,  but  how  the  saying 
reacts  upon  yourself  and  upon  the  hearer  :  all 
this  in  the  fraction  of  a  second. 

We  grow  by  reaction  ;  mind  on  body,  body 
on  mind.  With  the  slow  mind  there  is  little 
reaction,  with  the  brute  none :  but  to  the  per 
son  of  fine  poetic  sensibilities,  the  trees,  flowers. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  155 

sky,  water  speak  to  him  with  a  thousand 
tongues.  You  see  with  the  physical  eye :  that 
is  the  action,  the  impression  made  on  your 
mind  is  the  reaction. 

"  A  primrose  by  the  river's  brink 
A  yellow  primrose  was  to  him, 
And  it  was  nothing  more." 

No  reaction. 

Love  is  an  alternating  current,  action  and 
reaction  :  my  love  acts  on  you,  yours  on  me. 
Yours  reacts  upon  yourself,  mine  the  same ;  and 
the  result  is  a  quicker  sensibility  for  good,  a 
more  hearty  appreciation  of  beauty,  a  broader 
outlook,  a  quicker  insight,  an  increased 
sympathy. 

Let  us  so  live  that  the  reaction  from  our 
lives  will  be  a  benediction  on  ourselves — a 
blessing  to  others. 


156  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  XL. 

MR.   FORBES  TO  MISS  HAROLD. 

One  may  harangue,  several  may  talk  ;  but  con 
versation  requires  two  and  no  more.  Between 
these  there  must  be  such  a  mutual  understand 
ing  that  all  explanation  may  be  waived. 

Only  those  who  know  the  delight  of  conver 
sation  can  be  silent  in  the  presence  of  each 
other  and  be  at  ease.  Silence,  under  these 
conditions,  is  music  asleep. 

Where  conversation  is  possible,  each  is  wiser, 
holier,  purer  in  heart  than  when  alone.  Soul 
acts  on  soul  and  brings  out  only  the  good  in 
each.  The  reaction  from  conversation  is 
insight  into  Divine  things. 

And  do  you  know,  dear,  there  is  a  burden  of 
joy  as  well  as  a  burden  of  heaviness ;  and  so 
this  love  gives  such  a  burden  of  joy  that  we 
cannot  rest  until  we  share  the  joy  with  each 
other. 

We  must  use  our  joy  (as  well  as  all  other 
good  things),  and  so  we  give  our  joy  away,  and 
still  keep  it. 

With  you  I  use  my  faculties,  with  you  the 
circuit  is  complete. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  157 

NUMBER  XLI. 

MR.  FORBES  TO  MISS  HAROLD. 

MY  LADY  :  — 

There  is  a  loneliness  here  in  the  desert,  yet 
there  is  a  freedom. 

You  remember  the  man  who  wrote  from  his 
prison  cell,  "At  six  o'clock,  the  world  is  shut 
out  and  we  are  free  from  intrusion."  Well,  I 
am  free  from  intrusion  the  livelong  day. 

In  connection  with  every  palace  of  kings  there 
has  been  a  prison.  The  ruling  priesthood  has 
always  had  its  dungeons  for  unbelievers ;  and 
political  and  ecclesiastical  prisons  have  held  the 
greatest  and  rarest  souls  who  have  ever  blest 
this  earth  —  poets,  patriots,  thinkers,  inventors, 
reformers.  We  know  them,  so  why  need  I 
write  their  names !  We  have  been  with  them 
in  their  glory  and  their  gloom,  in  their  grand 
eur  and  their  grief.  Think  of  all  the  books 
written  behind  prison  bars.  Of  John  Bunyan's 
Pilgrim's  Progress,  Walter  Raleigh's  History; 
and  De  Foe,  with  ears  cut  off,  begging  for  ink 
to  write  Robinson  Crusoe !  Isolation  is  free- 


158  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

dom.  Solitude  may  be  communion  with  the 
Infinite,  and  on  the  pathless  plains  I  often  feel 
that  I  am  face  to  face  with  my  Maker. 


NUMBER  XLII. 
ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES  TO  HONOR  HAROLD. 

MY  DEAR  LADY:  — 

I  now  believe  that  this  withdrawal  from  the 
rush  and  friction  of  the  world  — living  near  to 
Nature's  heart,  with  no  roof  but  the  blue  dome 
of  heaven  —  surrendering  myself  into  the  arms 
of  rest,  silence  and  Infinity  —  is  doing  me 
untold  good.  Yet  there  are  lonely  pinings  of 
the  heart,  and  my  arms  reach  out  to  you  across 
the  miles,  as  I  pray  with  my  face  toward  the 
east. 

The  misfortunes  of  men  often  proceed  from 
their  inability  to  be  alone.  They  go  in  search 
of  companionship,  to  the  saloon  and  the  gaming 
table,  to  riot  and  extravagance,  dissipation  and 
excess  ;  and  thus  they  try  to  forget  themselves, 
and  —  alas  !  —  they  often  succeed. 

Strong  drink,  opium,  and  other  drugs  that 
lull  to  drowsy  nothingness,  are  only  the 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  159 

attempts  of  men  to  dismiss  self.  Happy  is  he 
who  can  live  alone  with  God ;  and  yet,  dear,  in 
all  this  wilderness,  could  I  —  could  I  be  happy 
without  you  ?  "  Give  me  solitude,  sweet  soli 
tude;  but  in  my  solitude,  give  me  still  one 
friend  to  whom  I  may  murmur,  solitude  is 
sweet." 


NUMBER  XLIII. 
MISS  HAROLD  TO  MR.  FORBES. 

MY  LOVER: — 

What  a  charming  bit  of  Scotch  folk  lore  is 
that  of  the  protected  boatman  ! 

The  night  was  dark  and  cold,  the  wind  blew 
in  fitful  gusts,  the  waves  rose  high,  as  there 
came  to  the  wharf  a  woman  in  tattered  gar 
ments,  bearing  in  her  arms  a  babe  held  close 
to  her  breast.  "I  must  cross  the  river  —  I 
must  cross  to-night !  "  she  cried.  The  ferryman 
replied:  "Stay  thy  noise,  woman!  Knowest 
thou  not  the  hour  is  late  and  the  boat  is  tied 
fast  ?  Get  thee  gone  !  "  But  still  she  cried  : 
"Is  there  none  to  speed  me  on  my  way?  Oh,  I 
must  cross  to-night ! "  And  the  ferryman 


160  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

answered,  "  Woman,  as  thou  importunest  so,  tell 
me  why  thy  haste  and  how  much  money  hast 
thou  to  tempt  me  to  defy  the  wave  for  thy  fool 
ish  whim  ! "  And  she  only  answered  :  "  I  have 
no  money,  but  I  must  cross  to-night  —  I  must 
cross  to-night !  Oh,  I  must  be  on  my  way  ! " 
And  he  answered,  wroth :  "  Get  thee  gone  with 
thy  whelp  !  Away ! " 

And  then  a  youth,  who  stood  near,  approached 
and  said,  "Woman,  I  know  not  whom  thou  art, 
and  it  matters  not ;  but  T  have  a  boat  at  hand, 
and  if  thou  wilt  allow  me,  /  will  speed  thee  on 
thy  way." 

And  he  helped  the  woman  to  a  seat  in  the 
end  of  his  boat.  The  waves  tossed  the  craft 
about,  but  the  boat  reached  in  safety  the  far 
ther  bank  ;  and  behold,  when  the  youth  reached 
out  his  hand  to  help  the  woman  on  shore,  there 
arose  and  stood  before  the  simple  boatman,  not 
the  woman  in  rags  but  a  beauteous  creature 
clothed  in  white,  and  about  her  shone  a  won 
drous  light.  " Fear  not !"  she  said.  "They  call 
me  the  Blessed  Virgin ;  and,  ever  after,  thy 
boat  shalt  ride  in  safety,  where'er  thou  choos- 
est  to  go.  For  thy  soul  hast  pity,  and  thou  heardst 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  161 

my  cry  for  help,  and  didst  not  seek  to  question 
nor  quibble  and  wrangle  with  the  needs  of  the 
heart,  but  didst  speed  me  on  my  way;  and  now 
I  decree  that  no  harm  shall  befall  thee ! " 

And,  ever  after,  the  boatman  was  free  from 
the  peril  of  the  wave;  and  when  he  had  lived 
out  many  long  and  useful  days  and  came  to  die, 
there  appeared  at  his  bedside  the  Blessed  Virgin. 
And  all  who  stood  near  heard  her  voice  as  she 
said,  "Fear  not,  for  I  have  come  to  row  thy 
soul  safely  over  the  river  called  Death!  "  — and  as 
the  form  vanished  the  people  looked  and  saw  a 
smile  on  the  face  of  the  boatman,  but  his  spirit 
had  floated  away  across  the  Unknown  Deep. 


NUMBER  XLIV. 
MISS  HAROLD  TO  MR.  FORBES. 

MY  DEAR  ARTHUR  :  — 

How  all  this  love-relation  has  come  to  us ! 
Sympathy  led  ;  then  spirit  followed,  and  refused 
to  come  away  —  and  all  so  perfectly  natural, 
gentle,  spontaneous.  You  did  not  say,  Come 
this  way ;  now,  please  do  come  !  —  nor  I  to  you. 


162  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

We  were  moving  together,  in  lines  coming 
nearer  and  nearer,  until  at  last  we  simply 
reached  out  hands  and  thus  we  journey.  And, 
dear,  can  one  journey  alone  and  be  alive  to  all 
beauty,  so  that  the  faculties  are  ever  receptive 
and  alert  ?  No,  not  alone,  I  hear  you  say. 

It  is  artificial  life  that  kills.  A  striving  to 
make  harmonious  adjustments  —  to  please  this 
one  or  avoid  displeasing  that ;  but  love  brings 
such  a  stillness,  smoothness,  lightness  into  our 
lives,  that,  being  in  right  relation  to  the  one 
soul,  we  can  easily  be  in  right  relation  to  all. 

Have  you  noticed,  dear,  what  charity,  what 
patience,  has  come  to  your  spirit  ?  Nothing 
worries  —  we  are  not  disturbed. 

This  is  life. 


NUMBER  XLV. 
MR.  FORBES  TO  MISS  HAROLD. 

MY  GENTLE  LADY : — 

You  have  faith  plus,  my  dear,  and  hope  to 
spare,  otherwise  I  would  be  down  in  the  depths ; 
for  verily  I  have  drawn  from  your  supply,  and 
it  is  your  fountain  that  nourishes  and  sustains 


FORBES  OF  HAKVAKD.  163 

me.  I  am  unworthy  of  your  great  love ;  but  the 
only  way  I  can  become  worthy,  is  to  live  in 
this  love-atmosphere,  and,  under  its  benign  influ 
ence,  open  out  my  sleeping  soul-forces  as  the 
acorn  bursts  its  shell  under  the  influence 
of  the  gentle  summer  rain  and  sunshine.  I 
feel  that  the  rays  reach  me  only  through  you, 
you  are  the  prism  that  concentrates  and  gives 
to  me.  Unless  you  focused  truth  for  me,  how 
could  I  ever  perceive  it  ?  The  actinic  ray,  you 
know,  is  the  one  that  vitalizes ;  it  is  the  growth 
principle. 

Love  is  the  actinic  ray. 


NUMBER  XLVI. 

MISS    HAROLD    TO    MR.    FORBES. 

Nothing  can  make  us  truly  live,  but  using 
what  we  have.  If  there  is  a  royal  road  to 
geometry  we  do  not  know  it?  There  is  an 
expression  used  by  some  good  old  ladies  to 
show  their  surprise  ;  they  look  at  you,  adjust 
their  specs,  and  say,  "  La  me !  I  want  to 
know." 

Well,   what  greater  ambition    is  there  than 


164  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

this — "I  want  to  know?"  It  is  wonderful 
to  know ;  not  to  know  seems  the  only  sin. 
Dearest,  let  us  know. 

I  am  glad  I  am  alive.  Glad  am  I,  and  grate 
ful  to  God  for  this  great  love  which  gives  abil 
ity  to  know.  I  am  glad  there  is  so  little  car 
bonic  acid  in  the  atmosphere,  and  glad  there 
are  so  few  mean  people  in  the  world.  There 
are  not  near  as  many  as  there  were  before  this 
love  began.  Do  you  not  agree  with  me, 
lover  ?  And  do  you  not  think  the  world  is  fast 
growing  better?  Why!  never  before  have 
people  treated  me  so  courteously ;  they  smile, 
bow,  and  make  room  for  me,  and  I  have  not 
heard  a  cross  word  for  days  and  days.  This 
love-atmosphere  in  which  I  live,  gives  youth, 
smoothness,  rest,  peace,  joy,  happiness.  Its 
increasing  activity  of  intellect  brings  good 
results  quickly ;  cures  heartache,  moodiness, 
soul-hurt,  and  in  fact  all  disease^  that  man  can 
acquire  —  we  will  not  say  "  that  flesh  is  heir  to,' 
because  we  are  heirs  to  the  kingdom,  not 
dyspepsia.  This  love  brings  to  us  all  of  the 
joys  that  children  know,  and  their  sweet  con 
tent  as  well. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  165 

There,  my  lover,  laugh  if  you  wish  ;  it  sounds 
like  a  patent-medicine  bill,  but  it  is  just  a  love 
letter  to  you.  Smile  here. 


NUMBER  XLVII. 
MR.  FORBES  TO  MISS  HAROLD. 

MY  SWEETHEART  :  - 

There  is  no  great  art  without  philosophy,  and 
yet  reflection  is  the  worst  enemy  of  art.  Our 
first  thought  is  the  best ;  and  when  we  begin  to 
reflect,  to  shape,  to  arrange  —  verily  it  is  like 
the  handling  of  a  butterfly  by  heavy  fingers. 

We  have  been  told  that  certain  of  our 
inclinations  are  base  and  allied  to  the  animal, 
but  all  of  our  powers  have  their  earthly  and 
their  spiritual  expression.  Where  one  begins 
and  the  other  ends,  I  will  not  attempt  to  say  ; 
but  it  is  very  true  that  it  is  needful  a  man 
should  be  a  good  animal,  so  I  take  it  that  all  is 
good  and  that  we  have  no  capacity  which  is 
unworthy  of  immortal  development. 

Whatever  we  possess  is  God-given  ;  and  we 
will  not  attempt  to  trample  it  out,  nor  insult 
His  work  by  calling  it  a  snare.  For  His 


166  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

creation    is    not    to   deceive,  but  to  build  up ; 
and  nothing  that  is  made,  is  without  purpose. 

Every  impulse  of  life  to  reach  out  to  life,  is 
God-given  and  holy. 


NUMBER  XLVIII. 

MISS  HAROLD  TO  MR.  FORBES. 

Youth  is  not  merely  a  charming  phase  of  the 
fleeting  years ;  it  is  a  pervading  quality  of 
character,  a  joyous  freshness  of  spirit,  that 
springs  from  the  soul. 

Infinite  hope  is  the  essence  of  youth ;  and 
he  who  really  believes  that  God  is  good,  has  no 
fears  that  steal  away  his  heritage.  Gray  hair  is 
naught ;  and  what  boots  it  though  his  form  is 
bent  when  his  heart  is  young? 

"He  goes  bravely  through  the  world,  who 
carries  with  him  the  perfume  of  the  morning 
and  the  lavish  heart  of  youth." 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD,  167 

NUMBER  XLIX. 

MR.    FORBES    TO    MISS    HAROLD. 

Yes,  you  are  right.  Happiness  is  from 
within  and  not  dependent  on  outward  circum 
stances.  Man  should  be  sufficient  unto  him 
self,  and  not  lean  upon  an  outward  environment. 

By  the  way,  did  you  say  that  your  box  in  the 
post-office  looked  lonesome  when  no  letter 
came  from  the  Rockies,  and  that  the  lonesome- 
ness  of  the  box  imparted  its  vacuity  and  noth 
ingness  to  the  entire  village  as  you  walked 
homeward  ?  Why,  my  dear,  I  thought  that 
happiness  was  from  within  ! 

The  one  thing  which  Pandora  did  not  let 
escape,  you  should  hold  very  closely.  Of 
course  my  creed  says,  "  Happiness  is  not 
dependent  on  outward  events,"  but  bless  you, 
child,  my  creed  is  not  the  thing  I  believe! 
I  only  hold  it  theoretically.  My  happiness 
cometh  from  Concord,  dear  —  no  matter  what 
the  theory  says. 


168  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  L. 
MISS  HAROLD  TO  MR.  FORBES. 

MY  DEAR  LOVER  :  — 

You  should  see  this  wide  expanse  of  water 
as  it  flows  so  placidly  unvexed  to  the  sea. 

It  quivers  and  shimmers  in  the  sunlight. 
Shut  your  eyes  and  see  it  now,  and  those  blue 
hills  beyond ;  and  the  trees  waving  —  poising 
back  and  forth  in  the  lazy  summer  breeze,  as  it 
rises,  falls,  dies  away,  and  then  comes  with 
swelling  force. 

The  lake,  trees,  hills,  clouds  and  sunshine  all 
seem  to  lift  up  their  voices  in  one  harmonious 
chorus :  "  Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God  of 
Hosts,  Heaven  and  earth  are  full  of  Thy  glory : 
Glory  be  to  Thee,  O  Lord  Most  High." 

So  say  our  hearts  and  lives,  in  one  con 
tinuous  prayer  of  love  and  praise. 

Stronger  and  more  fervid  grows  the  chorus 
—  for  love,  like  all  good  things,  is  cumulative; 
and  all  the  days  of  by-gone  love,  work  their 
sweetness  into  this. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  169 

NUMBER  LI. 

MR.  FORBES  TO  MISS  HAROLD. 

MY  DEAR  :  - 

After  the  hot  sun  of  the  long  day,  with  the 
never-ending  barrenness  of  the  sand  hills,  and 
the  knowledge  that  in  this  company  of  a  hun 
dred  men,  I  cannot  converse  with  one,  the  love- 
atmosphere  at  thought  of  you,  comes  stealing 
over  me.  I  am  in  an  oasis,  with  a  clear,  bub 
bling  stream  murmuring  through.  Spreading 
palms,  geraniums,  and  rose  bushes  are  all 
about ;  the  floor  is  carpeted  with  crocus,  auric 
ula,  and  violets ;  a  gentle  breeze  stirs  the  cool 
leaves,  and  their  soft  sighing  keeps  time  with 
the  song  of  the  brook. 

We  are  descended  from  the  wandering,  wild 
horsemen  of  the  Arab  desert,  and  the  ancestral 
tendencies  yet  linger  in  our  veins.  Where  is 

the  man    whose    heart    does    not    leap   at    the 

• 

suggestion  of  camping  out  ?     Show  me  such, 

and  I  will  point  you  one  whose  soul  is  ripe  for 
treason,  conspiracy  and  spoils. 

Many  women  have  a  peculiar  fatal  power  not 
given  to  men  —  namely,  an  ability  to  concen- 


170  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

trate  in  one  short  effort  an  amount  of  vital 
force  which  should  carry  them  through  a  long 
life;  but,  having  once  brought  this  force  to 
bear,  they  are  undone,  and  the  poise  of  health 
is,  forever  after,  a  thing  to  them  unknown. 
Beware,  my  proud  and  thoughtful  Minerva,  of 
this  over-intensity.  Dullness  saves  me,  and 
most  souls,  from  the  danger  I  have  named ;  not 
so,  you. 


NUMBER  LIT. 

MISS    HAROLD    TO    MR.    FORBES. 

Mr.  Emerson  read  to  us,  last  night,  from  an 
essay  he  has  recently  written.  Among  other 
things,  he  spoke  of  the  necessity  of  cultivating 
the  receptive  and  positive  mood,  as  opposed  to 
negation. 

We  discussed  this  thought  after  the  reading^: 
of  how  men  dispute  and  wrangle ;  but  nature  is 
calm,  and  in  her  presence  man  takes  on  the 
spirit  of  childhood. 

The  child  is  a  seer,  and  has  the  clear  intui 
tion  of  purity.  The  child  does  not  weigh  and 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  171 

consider  —  set  down  the  debits  and  credits  and 
strike  a  balance  —  but  his  mind  works  spontan 
eously,  is  all  alert  and  receptive.  No  thought  is 
"dangerous"  to  him;  he  is  the  perfect  prism, 
which  reflects  all  the  beauties  of  light  with  its 
various  tints.  From  this,  Mr.  Emerson  deduces 
that  we  should  avoid  all  controversy;  for  he 
who  argues,  gets  into  a  mental  habit  of  form 
ing  a  rebuttal  whenever  he  hears  another  speak. 
Sympathy  is  put  aside;  and,  instead  of  getting 
the  good  the  speaker  has  to  offer,  the  contro 
versialist  is  only  the  while  sinking  deeper  into 
his  own  whims  and  prejudices. 

Now,  look  you,  my  dear  lover,  we  can  put 
this  thought  to  the  test.  When  we  find  a  man 
given  to  argument,  we  will  take  his  latitude 
and  longitude,  and  then  ascertain  which  way  he 
is  traveling.'  My  opinion  is,  that  he  is  anch 
ored  fast  in  the  mud  of  his  own  conceit. 

Let  us  sit  quietly  and  cultivate  the  receptive 
mood,  putting  jealousy  and  prejudice  behind. 
We  must  not  be  afraid  of  receiving  what  is 
harmful.  Does  the  wild  deer  fear  being  pois 
oned  by  the  green  leaves  it  feeds  upon  ? 

To  refute,  or  attempt  to  deny,  mentally  or 


172  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

verbally,  is  to  close  the  intellect  against  truth ; 
it  is  to  acquire  the  habit  of  sophistry,  or  the 
use  of  any  argument  that  is  at  hand — truth  or 
error  —  to  convince  the  jury  that  we  are  right. 
Controversy  does  not  convince. 

We  always  impart  to  others  a  like  feeling  to 
that  which  we  hold,  and  our  mental  attitude  is 
shaping  itself  in  their  minds ;  and,  if  we  wran 
gle,  they,  too,  are  forming  a  rebuttal.  Thus 
each  side  has  taken  a  vow  not  to  give  in  the 
width  of  a  hair;  and  from  this  convention,  Mr. 
Emerson  says,  "  We  go  to  the  woods ;  and 
they  say,  'why  so  hot,  my  little  man  ? ' '  How 
we  did  smile  when  he  read  this  sentence;  and 
he  stopped  and  looked  at  us,  surprised  that  we 
should  laugh.  His  gentle  earnestness  and  sin 
cerity  is  most  inspiring.  He  has  humor,  too; 
but  it  is  of  an  inward  sort,  and  does'not  give  way 
to  laughter.  Loud  ha  !  ha !  ha's !  become  some 
men.  Let  them  grow  purple  in  the  face,  and 
lean  against  the  house  and  roar,  peal  on  peal, 
as  the  tears  run  down  their  cheeks,  their  knees 
weaken  and  they  hold  their  sides ;  but  you  can 
imagine  Mr.  Emerson  turning  trickster,  as  eas 
ily  as  to  think  of  his  giving  way  to  boisterous 
mirth. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  173 

NUMBER  LIII. 

MISS    HAROLD    TO    MR.    FORBES. 

Every  pulse  of  my  heart  says,  Onward  — 
onward,  ever  and  eternally  —  onward  and 
upward !  Tarry  not  by  the  way ;  but  on  and 
on  and  on  ! 


NUMBER  LIV. 
MISS  HAROLD  TO  MR.  FORBES. 

DEAR  LOVER  MINE:  — 

There  is  no  plan  upon  which  a  mortal 
can  enter,  but  what  a  higher  insight  can  trans 
cend.  We  must  be  loyal  to  what  we  now  see 
is  right,  unmindful  of  all  the  vows  taken  in 
days  gone  by.  Thus  a  religion,  which  once  to 
us  was  truth,  might  now  be  a  dead  weight ; 
and,  as  such,  let  us  cast  it  into  the  deep,  and 
go  on  our  way  to  higher  things. 

Mr.  Emerson  told  us,  Saturday,  that  reading 
his  lectures  in  public  gave  him  little  satisfac 
tion,  but  what  he  printed  he  believed  would 


174  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

last;  and  he  often  read  with  relish  from  his 
own  books. 

It  was  such  a  charming  bit  of  frankness  that 
all  smiled.  Mr.  Hawthorne  expressed  surprise 
that  any  author  could  bear  the  sight  of  his  own 
words  in  print ;  and  for  himself,  he  said,  he 
would  just  as  lief  want  to  see  his  dinner  after 
he  had  eaten  it,  as  a  book  that  he  had  written. 
He  wrote  because  he  had  to,  for  his  own  good. 

Then  the  talk  ran  to  comparing  oratory  with 
literature.  Thoreau  said  oratory  has  its  excuse 
in  that  a  quick  work  must  be  done ;  occasion 
demands  a  forcible  presentation  of  truth  —  it  is 
now  or  never.  Oratory  dies  with  the  effort, 
but  literature  lives  on.  If  literature  is  mis 
understood  or  rejected,  the  author  always  finds 
balm  by  lodging  his  appeal  with  posterity.  Mr. 
Emerson  said  he  thought  the  desire  for  immor 
tality  was  often  what  prompted  men  to  write. 
We  long  for  a  lasting  result  to  our  work  —  we 
wish  to  live.  Men  want  their  names  to  be  per 
petuated.  They  wish  to  leave  fortunes,  and  to 
have  high  monuments  erected  to  their  memory. 
And  if  this  is  true  of  men  living  largely  in  the 
sensuous,  how  much  truer  of  those  who  live  in 
thought  and  spirit ! 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  175 

"And  why  this  pleasing  hope,  this  fond 
desire,  this  reaching  out  for  immortality?" 

In  this  desire  lies  the  proof  that,  somewhere 
and  somehow,  it  must  find  satisfaction. 


NUMBER  LV. 

ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES  TO   HONOR  HAROLD. 

Out  of  the  herd,  I  have  picked  a  pure  white 
mare  that  I  call  my  own.  She  is  the  most 
knowing  horse  I  ever  saw  ;  and  although  I  like 
solitude,  yet  without  a  horse  I  fear  the  still 
ness  would  oppress.  This  little  white  horse 
comes  at  my  call,  and  never  leaves  me  if  I  dis 
mount  on  the  march.  I  guide  her  by  the  swaying 
of  my  body,  and  she  always  reflects  my  mood. 
Am  I  lonely  and  long  for  you,  she  knows  it ;  is 
sympathetic,  and  sober  in  her  paces.  If  I  am 
joyous,  she  joins  in  the  caper,  and  shakes  her 
mane  in  glee.  Do  you  believe  in  metempsy 
chosis  ? 

Animals  are  happy  !  They  have  only  one  occu 
pation  ;  that  is,  the  seeking  of  nourishment  for 
their  bodies.  Man's  true  work  is  seeking  nour- 


176  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

ishment  for  his  soul  ;  and  when  he  makes  this 
the  chief  end  of  his  existence,  I  am  sure  that 
sweet  peace  will  be  his  portion.  Does  not  our 
joy  come  from  this,  my  dear  —  that  we  seek  the 
good  ? 

I  wish  the  harassed  and  hurrying  crowds  in 
cities  knew  the  joys  of  solitude.  The  silence 
of  the  mountains  can  cure  the  care-worn  soul 
of  the  ills  that  eat  away  its  life. 

Solitude  is  the  home  of  the  Almighty,  which 
no  thoughtful  man  can  enter  without  awe. 

From  letters  received  from  Dr.  Holworthy, 
I  fear  he  has  falkn  in  love  with  you,  my  sweet. 
Several  times,  in  years  past,  he  has  had  similar 
attacks.  I  am  sure,  however,  he  never  before 
met  a  lady  so  lovable  as  "the  tall  Iris  "  —  as  he 
calls  you. 

I  think  I  know  why  you  are  tall.  It  is 
because  the  gravitation  from  above  calls, 
"Come  up  higher!"  So,  out  of  the  miasma, 
and  above  your  associates,  you  lift  your  sunlit 
head,  and  gain  a  view,  out  into  the  Beyond, 
which  is  impossible  to  others.  Yes;  figura- 
tively»and  literally,  you  stand  above  them. 

But    about    Dr.    Holworthy.     It    makes    me 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  177 

smile  to  think  he  imagines  that  you  could  pos 
sibly  be  his  mate.  Are  you,  who  have  no  use 
for  powders  and  potions,  to  turn  proxy  M.  D. 
and  manipulate  a  pestle  for  your  liege? 
Avaunt,  Holworthy  !  —  thou  Jack  of  Pills!  — 
with  thy  "heroic  treatment,"  and  harass  not 
my  gentle  lady  with  thy  allopath  attentions. 


NUMBER  LVI. 

MISS  HAROLD  TO  MR.   FORBES. 

I  saw,  to-day,  reproductions  of  the  grand 
carvings  of  Thorwaldsen.  Have  you  seen  them  ? 
His  "Night"  and  "Morning"  touched  me  to 
tears. 

One  critic  is  in  error,  in  speaking  of  the 
swift-flying  angel  in  "  Night  "  as  the  mother  of 
the  babes.  Look  again,  dear,  at  that  tall, 
graceful  form ;  how  the  drapery  sweeps  out 
behind,  showing  her  rapid  flight !  She  is  poised 
forward,  and  her  head  is  bowed  in  stern  silence. 
The  strong  soul  is  only  strong  by  the  contrast 
of  opposite  elements.  Here  we  get  strength, 
rapid  motion,  and  absolute  rest  and  relaxation. 


178  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

She  holds  in  either  arm  a  sleeping  baby,  and 
they  pillow  their  heads  on  her  neck  and  shoulder 
in  rest  —  complete  rest.  Her  form  is  that  of  a 
woman  who  has  never  borne  a  child. 

She  is  far  more  !  She  is  the  protecting  spirit 
of  the  night.  We  travel  when  we  sleep.  Yes ; 
in  the  sweet  sleep  of  babyhood  —  which  we  can 
all  enjoy  under  right  conditions  —  the  angel 
bears  us  on,  and  on,  and  on.  We  pillow  our  tired 
heads  on  her  bosom  in  perfect  baby  faith ;  and 
swiftly,  surely,  out  into  the  great  silence  of 
Infinity  she  bears  us.  When  you  lie  down  to 
rest,  to-night,  dear,  think  of  this ;  and  straight 
you  will  hear  the  rustle  of  a  wing,  and  across 
the  miles  the  angel  will  bear  you  to  me. 

Yes ;  the  critic  was  right.  She  is  not  only 
the  mother  of  these  babes,  but  of  all  others ; 
and  she  says,  "  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labor 
and  I  will  give  you  rest."  And  yet,  Mr.  Critic, 
it  is  poetry ;  and  have  I  not  said  that  poetry 
means  all  that  you  can  get  from  it  ?  She  is  a 
mother  to  you  and  to  me,  and  more. 

The  owl,  dear,  was  the  sacred  bird  of 
Minerva.  Minerva  was  the  protector  of  the 
young.  We  say  the  owl  is  the  bird  of  wisdom, 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD,  179 

because  he  looks  wise  ;  but  we  got  the  thought, 
long  ago,  from  the  Greek  idea  that  the  owl 
followed  Minerva,  who  represents  wisdom. 

Again,  the  owl  represents  the  night ;  the 
owl  also  means  silence.  This  is  the  poet's 
thought,  not  the  ornithologist's.  Milton  says 
"Then  silent  night  with  this  her  solemn  bird, 
and  this  fair  morn,  and  these  glittering  gems  of 
Heaven,  her  starry  train." 

Yes,  dear ;  well  do  you  say,  "  The  soul  rests 
not  in  feeling."  Thorwaldsen  wrought  the 
"  Night "  and  "  Morning "  in  a  single  day  of 
deep  grief.  What  is  grief,  dear  ?  It  cannot  be 
so  very  bad,  when  it  brings  such  results.  "  By 
their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  Think  of  all 
the  poems  written  in  tears.  Think  of  Cowper, 
Dante,  Milton,  Shelley,  and  all  the  others. 
Well  have  you  spoken,  "The  soul  rests  not  in 
feeling."  Thorwaldsen  carved  with  mallet, 
chisel — and  grief.  Who  ever/*?//  like  Michael 
Angelo,  save  his  countryman,  Dante  ? 

The  "Morning"  is  a  different  angel.  She 
holds  her  face  upward  in  gladness ;  her  flight 
is  leisurely,  and  her  drapery  falls  in  graceful 
curves.  She  scatters  flowers  as  she  flies,  and 


180  fOKBES  OF  HA RVARD. 

on  her  shoulder  perches  Love.  Love  holds  aloft 
a  torch,  and  is  it  not  meet  ?  Who  lights  the 
way  like  Love  ?  How  can  we  see  truth,  or 
how  can  we  ever  find  heaven,  except  Love  lead 
the  way  and  beckon  us  on  ?  He  goes  bravely 
through  the  world  who  bears  with  him  the  spirit 
of  the  morning. 

The  spirit  of  the  morning,  I  said,  my  dear! 
She  it  is,  and  Love,  who  lead  the  way. 

Thorwaldsen  began  on  the  "Night."  He 
carved  the  owl  first ;  last  the  sleeping  babes. 
His  heart  was  brimming,  he  stopped  not, 
straightway  he  carved  the  joyous  "  Morning." 
How  the  chips  flew;  and  lo !  his  grief  was 
gone!  We  have,  instead,  his  "Night"  and 
"Morning." 


NUMBER   LVII. 
MR.  FORBES  TO  MISS  HAROLD. 

MY  LADY  :  — 

Thank  you  for  telling  me  of  the  evening 
spent  at  Mr.  Emerson's.  I  would  like  to  have 
taken  part  in  the  discussion  on  the  Church  of 
Rome.  A  certain  grade  of  intellect  demands  a 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  181 

religion  of  symbol ;  and  the  growth  of  Cath 
olicism  in  America  is  not  a  source  of  fear  to 
so  clear  a  vision  as  that  of  your  dear  friend 
R.  W.  E. 

Spanish  Catholicism  is  one  thing,  American 
Catholicism  is  another.  The  spirit  of  freedom, 
here,  dilutes  the  power  of  priesthood  —  the 
question  of  climate  enters,  and  the  rocks  and 
snow  of  New  England  do  not  encourage  think 
ing  by  proxy.  It's  a  long  road  from  paganism 
to  the  clear  faith  of  Emerson,  and  Rome  is 
only  a  station  on  the  road  —  but  don't  let  the 
stop  be  too  long. 

Ma  Donna,  Madonna;  My  Lady  or  Our 
Lady.  Simply  a  Spanish  word ;  but  stands,  in 
Romish  parlance,  as  the  counterpart  of  Our 
Lord.  When  I  speak  to  you  of  Our  Lord,  you 
put  only  one  construction  on  my  expression. 
When  we  speak  of  (the)  Madonna,  it  means  to 
us  only  one  thing ;  the  thought  of  the  devout 
Catholic.  We  have  borrowed  his  expression  ; 
and  Thoreau  says  well,  that  few  persons  who 
dare  think  for  themselves  believe  the  dogma  of 
the  Madonna  —  meaning  the  miraculous  con 
ception,  etc. 


182  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

But  of  course  we  hold  the  allegory.  The 
facts  are  nothing  to  us  ;  principles,  everything. 
It  will  not  be  long  before  we  shall  turn, 
adjust  our  glasses,  and  stare  at  the  man  who 
takes  such  pains  to  deny  the  "miraculous 
conception." 

The  literature  of  the  East  is  full  of  such 
tales.  No  man  stops  me  on  the  street  and 
denies  stoutly  that  the  pedigree  of  Achilles  is 
false  as  recorded.  It  is  literature  and  poetry 
coming  from  out  the  misty  past ;  and  the  facts 
these  children  tell  only  speak  to  us  as  poetry 
speaks,  and  I  am  glad  to  see  that  Madonna 
means  so  much  to  you. 

We  have  sympathy  for  all  religions ;  and  you 
have  given  me  a  most  beautiful  thought  —  that 
she  who  produces  or  brings  forth  that  which  is 
great,  and  strong,  and  excellent,  must  be  pure. 
That  the  mother  of  Jesus  possessed  purity, 
sweetness,  gentleness,  and  love,  all  plus,  I  am 
sure.  See  how  she  believed  in  her  Son,  and 
followed  him  to  the  very  cross  ;  and  once  she 
saw  the  black  cloud  rising  afar  and  sought  to 
save  him.  She  wanted  to  get  him  out  of  Jerusa 
lem,  and  to  take  him  back  to  their  own  safe 
country  home. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  183 

She  represents,  to  us,  pleading,  intercession 
—  desire  to  save ;  and,  if  you  and  I  travel  on 
foot,  hand  in  hand,  up  some  weary  Alpine  pass, 
and  by  the  roadside  we  see  a  shrine  to  Our  Lady, 
we,  too,  will  cross  ourselves  devoutly  and  stand 
in  silent  prayer  a  moment,  ere  we  refresh  our 
selves  at  the  spring. 


NUMBER  LVIII. 

MR.    FORBES    TO    MISS    HAROLD. 

In  society  men  are  often  indifferent.  An 
earnest  spirit  is  wounded  by  the  contact  of 
such.  In  the  presence  of  stupidity  the  gods 
are  dumb.  So  I  do  not  wonder  that  great 
souls  are  grateful  for  the  soothing  evangel  of 
solitude. 

Indifference  smothers,  solitude  is  filled  with 
sympathy  :  for  the  beloved,  the  universal,  the 
Divine,  come  freely  in  and  make  their  homes 
with  us. 

Most  men  live  lives  of  blind  drudgery,  with 
out  deliberate  aims  or  ends.  They  work  that 
they  may  eat,  and  they  eat  that  they  may  have 


1 84  FORBES  OF  HA  R  VARD. 

strength  to  work.  Many  live  to  outstrip  their 
rivals,  pursue  their  enemies,  gratify  pride  or 
excite  envy.  Few  live  to  know  truth,  enjoy 
beauty,  and  reach  up  to  the  Infinite  by  loving 
one,  in  order  that  this  love  of  one  may 
increase  the  capacity  to  love  all.  Let  us  do 
this,  my  lady,  and  we  will  make  this  love  a 
stepping-stone  to  the  higher  life. 


NUMBER  LIX. 

ARTHUR   RIPLEY    FORBES    TO    HONOR    HAROLD. 

In  morals  there  have  been  no  new  discoveries 
made  for  two  thousand  years,  nor  will  there  be 
in  the  ages  to  come.  We  might  as  well  look  for 
anew  dimension  in  space,  a  new  foot-rule  which 
shall  be  angular  instead  of  straight,  or  a  yard 
stick  with  one  end  instead  of  two. 

We  know  all  the  principles  of  morals,  but 
there  is  much  to  learn  concerning  their  applica 
tion  and  development. 

Morals  are  an  outgrowth  of  the  truth  that 
everyone's  nerves  terminate  in  his  neighbor's 
flesh.  That  where  one  suffers,  all  suffer; 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  185 

where  one  enjoys,  all  enjoy.  Not  to  know  this 
betokens  a  lack  of  form,  a  chaos  in  the  mind, 
a  partial  imbecility. 

When  we  find  people  with  sympathy  so  that 
they  are  moved  by  the  sight  of  suffering  in 
others,  or,  better  still,  when  they  rejoice  with 
those  who  are  glad  — how  our  hearts  go  out  to 
such  !  And  this  is  only  our  homage  to  the 
Divine  within  them  —  "God  manifest  in  the 
flesh." 

Did  you  ever  think,  dear,  what  a  dull,  monot 
onous  place  heaven  would  be,  if  our  loved 
ones  were  not  there  ?  What  sort  of  minds 
have  those  people  who  pretend  to  believe  a 
wife  could  be  happy  in  heaven  while  her  hus 
band  is  in  hell  ? 

And,  by  the  way,  who  are  the  heathen,  after 
all  ?  What  makes  heaven  ?  Right  relation 
ship  between  one  man  and  one  woman  makes 
heaven  for  each. 

Heaven  is  relationship  between  souls ;  not  a 
relationship  between  a  soul  and  a  pavement, 
between  a  soul  and  emeralds  or  rubies,  nor 
between  a  soul  and  a  harp.  And,  my  sweet 
heart,  what  would  you  want  of  a  white  robe  if 


186  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

I  were  not  there  to  tell  you  whether  it  was  a 
good  fit  in  the  back  ?  And  tell  me,  dear,  would 
you  ever  play  a  harp  if  I  were  not  near  to 
listen  ? 

"In  heaven  there  is  no  marriage  nor  giving 
in  marriage."  Very  true,  for  the  questioners 
looked  upon  marriage  as  a  matter  of  contract 
which  became  legalized  only  when  priest  or 
officer  of  the  state  had  given  sanction.  But  in 
heaven,  spirit  will  reach  out  to  spirit,  affinities 
will  meet,  lovers  will  be  one;  and  He  spoke 
but  truth  when  He  said  that  in  heaven  there 
will  be  no  "marriage,"  for  God's  law  will  be 
that  supreme  and  right  relationship,  which  is 
only  love  applied,  and  which  will  be  adjusted 
so  as  to  govern  all. 

With  you,  my  dear  one,  I  claim  my  inherit 
ance  and  come  into  possession  of  my  Divine 
birthright.  The  only  shadow  that  ever  saddens 
me,  is  the  thought  that  we  may  be  separated. 
To  be  with  you  would  make  a  heaven  of  hell, 
and  to  be  in  heaven  without  you  would  be 
hell  in  itself.  What  boots  it  though  all  the 
other  saints  were  there  !  Without  you  I  am 
lost  —  lost.  With  you  I  reach  the  Over-soul. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  187 

NUMBER  LX. 

ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES  TO  HONOR  HAROLD. 

In  the  woods  or  on  the  prairie  we  should  go 
down  into  Nature  and  mix  with  her,  just  as  we 
bathe  in  the  sea  when  the  waves  rush  to  meet 
us  and  we  are  up-borne  by  them.  How  we 
shout  for  joy  and  how  glad  the  spirit  is  !  What 
freedom  there  is  when  we  have  left  our  dignity 
and  affectations  and  fears  with  our  good  clothes, 
and  forget  all  save  the  sea,  the  sea,  the  bound 
less  sea! 

Now,  could  we  meet  Nature  always  in  this 
joyous,  happy,  childlike  mood,  and  let  the  free 
air  of  heaven  and  the  sunshine  be  the  elements 
in  which  we  revel,  what  health,  what  priceless 
benefit  would  be  ours  ! 

Goethe  wrote  to  Charlotte  Von  Stein,  "  I  am 
sure  that  in  some  former  life  you  were  my  friend 
or  else  my  wife.  How  otherwise  would  you  so 
understand  me  now  ?  " 

You,  my  sweet,  love  the  things  I  love,  yotjr 
friends  are  mine  ;  and  my  most  abstruse  thought, 
simply  hinted,  is  at  once  grasped  by  you  and 
carried  farther. 


188  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Last  night  the  cloud  effects  on  the  mountains 
were  most  beautiful ;  the  sunset  filled  my  soul 
with  silent  joy.  I  thought  you  were  with  me, 
and  I  talked  to  you  and  called  your  attention 
to  all  this  beauty  ;  and  you,  too,  felt  the  glory  of 
the  scene.  We  spoke  of  the  Power  that 
brought  about  these  wondrous  changes.  As 
we  looked  the  sky  changed  —  with  what  majesty 
and  dignity !  And  then,  as  I  thought,  such  a 
sense  of  stillness  —  ineffable  peace  —  came 
over  us,  as  we  stood  hand  in  hand ! 


NUMBER  LXI. 
MR.  FORBES  TO   MISS  HAROLD. 

MY  DEAR  LADY:  — 

The  monotony  of  the  landscape,  the  stillness 
of  the  night,  broken  only  by  the  hum  of  insects 
or  the  occasional  howl  of  a  wolf,  and  the  soli 
tude  of  the  day,  as  we  wind  our  way  westward, 
afford  me  a  delicious  pleasure  which  I  never 
before  experienced.  All  rivalry,  care,  appre 
hension,  and  thought  of  sickness  or  pain,  are 
lost,  and  I  am  lulled  to  rest  and  lost  in  dreams 
of  you,  and  am  happy. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  189 

After  all,  dear,  it  is  not  each  other  that  we 
love  most,  but  our  love  is  for  the  good.  You 
love  me  because  I  love  the  things  that  you  love. 
We  simply  happen  to  be  moving  in  the  same 
direction  ;  and,  moving  at  the  same  pace,  we  will 
go  hand  in  hand. 


NUMBER   LXII. 

HONOR    HAROLD    TO    ARTHUR    RIPLEY    FORBES. 

I  look  into  the  future  and  yield  myself  to 
love's  perfect  whole. 

The  thought  comes  to  me  most  strongly, 
that  we  are  fast  reaching  a  point  that  few  mor 
tals  ever  reach.  Dante  calls  it  the  state  of  the 
"divine  passion."  We  will  use  this  expression, 
for  the  word  "  love  "  is  so  general  and  indefin 
ite.  Men  say  they  love  their  dogs,  their  food 
and  their  children.  What  do  they  mean  ? 

Yes,  Dante's  term  defines  our  affection.  It 
is  the  divine  passion  which  takes  one  up  into  the 
heaven  of  heavens,  and  makes  one  a  seer  and 
a  prophet.  Evolution,  not  involution,  must  be 
our  watchword,  and  each  day  we  will  consecrate 


190  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

ourselves  anew  to  this  Love  Divine  ;  and  so,  by 
God's  help,  we  will  become  better,  purer, 
nobler,  holier,  even,  as  the  days  do  grow. 


NUMBER    LXIII. 

HONOR  HAROLD  TO  MR.  FORBES. 

My  lover  is  a  poet.  His  thoughts  come  in 
rhythmic  flow,  and  suggest  —  inspire  —  rather 
than  explain.  His  soul  materializes  itself  in 
lines  of  beauty;  in  rainbow  tints  and  gentle 
harmonies,  instead  of  soulless  words  and  cruel 
logic.  Yes,  you  are  right :  Love  is  the 
inspirer,  and  that  which  softens,  ennobles  the 
spirit,  and  gives  it  strength  to  grasp  the  pure 
and  infinite  truth. 

What  you  told  me  of  the  tendency  of  theo 
logians  and  politicians  to  "argufy"  is  very  true. 
I  notice  Mr.  Emerson  does  not  talk  back ;  but 
states  his  thought  so  simply  that  one  might 
suppose  that  he  never  heard  of  anyone's  hold 
ing  an  opposite  view. 

Another  thing,  dear :  How  often  we  hear 
sweet  and  simple'  truths  announced  in  deep,  far- 


FORBES  OF  HAR  VA  RD.  1 91 

reaching  orotund,  with  awfully  solemn,  serious 
visage  and  great  demonstration,  as  if  the  truths 
aforesaid  were  newly  discovered  principles. 

Too  much  emphasis  weakens  the  effect. 
Let  us  be  natural. 

After  all,  there  is  only  one  Mind  —  one 
Truth  —  and  who  shall  say  what  particular  man 
is  the  Columbus  on  this  great  sea  of  thought, 
where  all  may  set  their  sails  and  catch  the 
breeze  coming  from  out  the  great  Unseen ! 


NUMBER   LXIV. 

ARTHUR    RIPLEY    FORBES    TO    HONOR    HAROLD. 

Outwardly  I  live  in  a  great,  desolate  wilder 
ness,  with  no  one  to  keep  me  company.  But 
love  makes  it  possible  for  us  to  forego  com 
panionship  for  a  time,  so  that  even  in  loneli 
ness  there  is  a  compensation.  Though  love  at 
times  prompts  painful  sadness,  would  we  give 
up  love  ? 

Civilization  is  a  manifestation  of  the  same 
constructive  faculty  which  created  the  world. 
Progressive  man  has  wel^nigh  changed  the 


192  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

entire  surface  of  the  earth  in  that  narrow  belt 
where  he  expatiates  in  the  fullest  perfection  of 
his  power. 

"God  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth;" 
but  creation  is  only  a  change  of  things  into 
useful  forms,  and  the  act  of  creation  is  going 
on  through  the  agent  which  God  created  in  his 
image,  and  still  instructs  from  age  to  age. 
Man  develops  by  marshaling  the  forces  of 
nature,  and  as  he  organizes  them  into  engines 
of  power  he  awakens  in  himself  a  Godhood 
which  before  he  wot  not  of:  "God  manifest  in 
man."  How  sublime  the  thought ! 

Change  in  the  use  of  my  brain  has  brought 
me  health.  My  mind,  dwelling  on  books,  and 
ways  and  means,  grew  weary  —  and  disease,  with 
great,  black,  flapping  wings,  hovered  near.  But 
life  whispered  to  life,  and  love  came  tiptoeing 
from  behind  the  clouds,  and  all  is  made  glorious 
summer;  as  the  cold  and  the  darkness  slink 
away,  comprehended  by  the  light  and  warmth. 

Right  thinking  is  sanative,  by  causing  us  to 
contemplate  and  idealize  the  good ;  which,  in  its 
highest  sense,  is  harmony  in  every  part  —  or 
health  itself.  You  have  told  me  all  this,  do 
you  care  because  I  send  it  back  ? 


FORBES  OF  HAR  VARD.  193 

NUMBER  LXV. 

MR.   FORBES  TO  MISS  HAROLD. 

The  Spring  was  behind  time,  for  she  had  been 
delayed  somewhere  on  the  road  by  a  big  Ice 
berg,  that  got  right  in  her  way  and  was  so 
unmannerly  he  would  not  let  her  pass. 

May  had  come,  for  the  Flowers  said  so. 
They  knew  it,  even  if  the  Wind  did  not ;  for  he 
still,  stupidly  and  sullenly,  blew  chill  and  cold  — 
just  out  of  habit,  I  suppose.  But  the  Blossoms 
and  the  Buds  were  tired  of  waiting,  so  they  just 
began  to  open  ;  and  everywhere  —  in  woods  and 
meadows,  on  bushes  and  trees,  by  old,  rotting 
logs,  in  hidden  nooks  where  no  eye  could  see, 
and  on  the  wild  crab-apples  where  the  Thorns 
stood  guard. 

There  was  an  apple-tree  grew  in  the 
corner  of  the  garden  that  proudly  hung  its 
branches  over  the  fence  to  show  the  passers-by 
its  flowers  and  fruit.  On  this  tree  grew  the 
daintiest  flowers  of  all ;  and  one  little  Twig  of 
this  tree  was  more  beautiful  than  all  the  others, 
because  it  was  so  closely  covered  with  little 
pink  Buds,  that  were  just  emerging  into  Bios- 


194  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

soms.  They  seemed  to  huddle  together  on  the 
Twig,  as  if  to  keep  warm,  and  their  eyes  were 
only  half  open. 

One  day  a  grand  carriage  rolled  up  to  the 
apple-tree  and  stopped.  A  footman  sprang 
down  and,  drawing  down  the  branch,  broke  off 
the  Twig  and  gave  it  to  a  lady  seated  in  the 
carriage.  She  held  the  Twig  very  carefully  in 
her  gloved  hand  ;  and,  when  she  got  home,  she 
took  the  Twig,  with  all  the  little  baby  Blossoms, 
into  a  splendid  room,  where  there  were  many 
beautiful  palms,  cacti  from  the  tropics,  climbing 
orchids,  and  roses  of  all  kinds  —  some  brought 
from  distant  climes.  And  she  put  the  Twig  in  a 
tiny  vase,  so  white  that  it  seemed  carved  from 
new-fallen  snow  —  and  about  the  top  of  the  vase 
was  a  little  band  of  gold.  One  of  the  big  Palms 
told  the  little  Twig  that  there  would  be  a 
reception  in  the  afternoon  ;  and  the  little  Twig 
grew  very  proud,  because  she  and  her  baby 
Blossoms  had  been  invited. 

Soon  the  guests  began  to  arrive,  and  they 
promenaded  through  the  grand  parlors  and 
looked  at  the  flowers.  Some  praised  too  much, 
some  too  little ;  and  others  whispered  to  their 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  195 

companions  in  sneering  tones,  when  they 
would  laugh.  But  in  all  the  company  no  one 
noticed  the  Twig  and  her  baby  Blossoms ;  and 
she  said  :  "  Poor  little  things  !  No  one  cares  for 
us  here."  Then  the  Blossoms  opened  their  eyes 
a  little  ;  and  all  looked  sorrowfully  out  of  the 
windows,  across  a  wide  meadow,  where  the  lawn 
was  studded  with  Dandelions  —  showing  every 
where,  as  they  turned  their  faces  up  to  see  the 
blue  sky  and  the  sun.  And  the  Twig  looked 
sadly  at  them,  and  said :  "  Poor,  despised  Dande 
lions  !  No  one  cares  for  you,  either  ;  you  are  so 
common.  Why,  the  people  walked  right  over 
you  when  they  came  here,  in  this  grand  parlor, 
and  the  same  folks  went  into  ecstasies  over  an 
orchid,  with  not  near  your  beauty,  and  they 
admired  a  thorny  cactus  that  squats  near  me 
and  scared  my  baby  Blossoms." 

Then  a  Sunbeam  sprang  in  at  the  window,  and 
he  kissed  the  Twig  and  all  the  Blossoms,  and 
exclaimed,  "Why,  look  out  on  the  lawn  !  "  And 
the  Twig,  looking  out,  saw  a  whole  little  army  of 
Sunbeams  dancing  among  the  Dandelions, 
just  as  the'  Sunbeam  came  to  visit  her.  And  as 
she  looked  a  group  of  children  came,  and 


196  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

among  them  was  one  so  small  she  could  not 
walk,  and  they  set  her  down  among  the  Dande 
lions;  and  the  little  child  laughed  aloud,  and 
reaching  out  her  chubby  hands  she  picked 
the  flowers  in  childish  glee.  And  all  the  chil 
dren  decked  themselves  with  wreaths  and  gar 
lands,  and  made  curious  chains  and  curls  out 
of  the  stems  ;  and  the  Sunbeams  joining  hands 
with  the  children,  they  danced  in  joy, 
until  the  Sunbeams  said  they  must  go  home. 
Then  the  children  plucked  long  stalks  of  Dan 
delion  with  feathery  crowns,  and  tried  to  blow 
the  seeds  all  away  with  one  breath,  to  see  if 
their  mothers  wanted  them.  And  as  the  Twig 
watched  the  Sunbeams  steal  away  behind  the 
far-off  hills,  the  baby  Blossoms  began  to  cry, 
and  wanted  to  go  home  to  the  old  apple-tree 
where  the  robin-red-breast  sang  to  his  mate  as 
the  sun  went  down. 

Just  then  a  young  Lady  came  through 
the  parlors  alone,  and  seeing  the  Twig 
she  raised  her  hands  and  said,  in  a  low,  sweet 
voice :  "  How  beautiful !  How  beautiful !  "  And 
she  took  up  the  tiny  vase  and  pressed  the  baby 
Blossoms  to  her  face,  and  warmed  them  by  her 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  197 

breath ;  and  the  baby  Blossoms  opened  their 
mouths,  as  babies  always  do  when  they  are 
kissed.  And  the  Lady  said  to  the  Twig  :  "  Why, 
how  beautiful  you  are  !  You  are  as  pretty  as  the 
Dandelions,  and  yet  different.  I  will  hide  you 
and  the  baby  Blossoms  away  in  my  heart ;  and, 
keeping  you  still,  I  will  place  you  on  immortal 
canvas."  And  then  a  lost  Sunbeam,  from  over 
the  hill-top,  came  in  at  the  open  window,  and, 
kissing  the  Lady,  flushed  the  pale  pink  of  the 
Blossoms  a  deeper  rose,  and  was  gone. 

"  Do  you  not  see,  children  ! "  said  the  Twig. 
"  God  sent  the  Sunbeams  and  the  Lady.  She 
loves  the  Dandelions  and  she  loves  us,  and  the 
Sunbeams  love  us  and  the  Lady  beside  ;  for, 
look  you,  although  the  Sunbeam  has  gone,  we 
see  where  he  kissed  her  wavy  hair  and  her 
cheek,  and  his  shadow  lingers  lovingly  in  her 
eyes.  She  has  hidden  us  away  in  her  heart ;  and 
from  there  will  she  give  out  our  perfume  to  all 
whom  she  meets,  and  will  keep  us  safe  forever." 


198  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  LXVI. 

MR.   FORBES  TO  MISS  HAROLD. 

You  have  often  felt  that  the  presence  of 
certain  people  tired  you,  while  after  being  with 
others  you  are  refreshed.  Receptive  souls 
give  us  their  sympathy  —  they  are  not  men 
tally  quibbling  about  our  manner  or  thought. 
They  are  willing  to  take  all  their  intellectual 
skies  will  hold,  and  let  the  rest  go.  If  we 
speak  well,  they  are  willing  to  commend  ;  if  ill, 
they  forgive  by  their  silence.  There  are  others 
whose  presence  we  feel  as  soon  as  we  enter 
the  room  —  they  set  their  minds  in  opposition 
to  us,  and  verbally  or  mentally  refute  and  try 
to  pull  us  down  or  endeavor  to  cause  us  to  fix 
Dur  eyes  on  another  goal. 

If  I  make  a  simple  proposition,  for  instance 
-  "  Health  is  the  normal,  that  is,  the  natural, 
condition  of  man" — our  bad  angel  says,  "Oh, 
yes,  of  course ;  but  how  about  cancer,  is  not 
that  natural,  too?"  Or  if  I  say,  "Nature  is 
planned  for  benefit,"  the  retort  comes,  "Well, 
how  about  potato  bugs,"  etc.  Then  to  keep 
from  appearing  ridiculous  or  sullenly  silent  I 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  199 

endeavor  to  explain.  Result  is,  I  am  soon  in 
an  argument;  then  perplexed  by  finding  my 
sacred  thought  pooh-poohed  ;  then  I  am  smiled 
down,  and  then  I  make  an  inward  vow  ever 
after  to  keep  my  opinions  to  myself,  and  —  I 
have  lost  five  degrees  of  power  and  vitality. 

To  listen  is  a  fine  art.  All  listeners  should 
have  sympathy,  for  language  is  only  the  ripple 
that  plays  across  the  face  of  the  deep.  Beneath 
the  surface  of  conscious  discourse  lies  the 
great  world  of  meditation.  Here,  in  its  quiet, 
mysterious  depths,  where  no  tide  enters,  dwells 
what  soul-force  there  is  in  us ;  and  my  sweet 
heart  feels  a  thousand  times  more  than  ever 
leaps  to  her  lips,  in  language  crude  compared 
to  promptings  within.  For  vain  are  words  ;  and, 
called  upon  to  prove,  we  stammer,  beat  the  air, 
and  lose  the  golden  thread  of  sweet  commun 
ion.  My  gentle  lady  does  not  proof  demand, 
nor  sequence  logical ;  for  her  great,  prayerful 
soul  calls  to  me  across  the  miles,  and  thought 
meets  thought  in  firm  embrace  —  deep  calls  to 
deep,  this  is  life  indeed — creation. 

Right  expression  of  thought  does  not  baffle, 
distress,  agitate  or  perplex ;  but  brings  exalta- 


200  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

tion,  bright,  sublime,  serene,  composed.  No 
vain  unrest,  with  wild  regret  or  striving  —  reach 
ing  out,  or  sense  of  failure  and  inglorious  retreat ; 
but  stealing  o'er  our  senses  comes  the  thought 
of  security,  peace,  and  truly  do  we  say  that  all 
is  well. 

So  here  alone  —  yet  not  alone,  in  all  this 
wealth  of  nature  wild  —  is  wondrous  rest;  for 
no  one  asks  the  reason  for  each  proud  -thought 
that  comes  prancing  by  before  my  inward  gaze, 
as  horses,  sinewy,  strong,  their  rich  coats  glow 
ing  in  the  sunshine,  eager  for  the  race,  alert, 
alive. 

The  healthy  intellect  is  not  the  one  given  to 
logic,  controversy  and  syllogistic  wordy  warfare. 
It  is  the  intuitive  soul  which  listens  close, 
inclines  the  heart  and  wastes  not  its  force  in 
wind  mill  duels.  It  speaks  only  to  those  who 
have  ears  to  hear;  to  those  who  speak  again 
and  answer  back  in  kind,  not  asking  why  or 
how  or  who  told  you  so.  What  matters  it  who 
voiced  it  first,  so  long  as  'tis  truth  ? 

Better,  by  far,  that  to  the  mount  should  man 
ascend,  and  commune  there  only  with  the  spir 
its  dear,  afar,  apart,  or  gone  before  into  the 


FORBES  OF  HA  R  VA  RD.  201 

Great  Beyond,  than  spend  his  days  in  baffling 
bickerings.  ~ 

Let  him  speak  his  thoughts,  but  answer  no 
vain  quibble.  Let  him  write  his  message  on 
the  wall  of  time  in  legend  bold,  where  all  may 
read ;  but  tarry  he  shall  not,  to  explain  or  apol 
ogize  to  those  who  will  not,  or  cannot 
understand. 

When  we  speak  only  for  the  heart  that  loves, 
we  never  lose  our  faith,  nor  with  fierce  strug 
gle  try  to  read  the  mysteries  of  Infinity. 
These  things  harass  us  not ;  but  ever  do  we 
pray,  "Thy  will  be  done."  No  hot  importun- 
ings  of  High  Heaven  ;  but  gently  do  we  say, 
and  say  again  :  Thy  will  be  done.  Time  is  our 
fair  seed-field  —  of  time  we're  heir. 


NUMBER  LXVII. 

ARTHUR  RIPLEY   FORBES  TO  HONOR  HAROLD. 

Wise  men  recognize  and  admit  the  fact  that 
communism  as  a  theory  is  invulnerable.  The 
society  it  offers  is  regular,  systematic,  symmet 
rical  and  right.  It  has  only  one  fault  and  that 


202  FORBES  OF  HA  R  VA  RD. 

is,  it  is  impossible.  It  takes  no  account  of 
the  fact  that  humanity  is  made  out  of  very 
peculiar  clay  —  is  full  of  whims,  foibles  and 
inconsistencies. 

Love  between  man  and  woman  implies  a 
community  of  two :  absolute  sharing  of  not 
only  every  thing  but  of  every  feeling,  be  it 
joy  or  sorrow ;  and  this  sharing  doubles  the 
joy  and  halves  the  sorrow,  for  have  we  not 
tried  it  ? 

This  communism  of  two  is  invulnerable  as  a 
theory,  and  is  adamant  as  a  fact.  It  differs 
from  a  communism  of  society  in  this  —  that 
the  man  and  woman  have  a  oneness  of  ambi 
tion.  The  very  few  communities  that  have 
been  partially  successful  have  had  a  permeat 
ing  oneness  of  thought  and  aim  among  their 
members,  and  not  the  complex  diversity  which 
is  to  be  found  among  mankind. 

But  in  the  divine  passion  we  each  love  that 
which  the  other  loves  ;  and  thus  our  commun 
ity  is  ideal  —  perfect  in  theory,  perfect  in 
practice. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  203 

NUMBER  LXVIII. 
MR.  FORBES  TO  MISS  HAROLD. 

MY  DEAR  LADY  :  — 

One  thing  only  I  lack  —  a  soul  with  whom 
to  share  my  joy.  The  grandeur  of  these  moun 
tains  cannot  be  expressed :  'twere  vain  to 
attempt  it.  They  must  be  seen,  and  this  sub 
limity  must  be  felt — but  not  alone.  In  all 
life  there  must  be  action  and  reaction  between 
two  human  hearts,  or  emotion  stifles  and  we 
are  drowned  in  our  own  element,  as  bees  are 
sometimes  intoxicated  by  the  sweets  which 
they  would  carry  away. 

The  mountain  air  buoys  one  up;  and  on  first 
coming  here,  I  am  told,  all  feel  this  splendid 
exhilaration.  Why,  I  feel  like  shouting  for 
joy  !  —  and  would  if  you  were  here. 

The  wagon  train  is  working  its  way  slowly, 
and  following  a  mountain  gorge  that  sends  a 
sparkling  stream  of  melted  snow  dashing  past. 
Snow-capped  peaks  lift  their  heads  to  the  skies. 
If  you  were  here,  together  we  would  lift  up 
our  eyes  to  "the  hills  from  whence  cometh 


204  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

our  strength."  If  I  bad  the  faith  that  could 
remove  mountains,  I  would  exercise  it  now 
and  transport  these  towering  cliffs  to  you. 

Plants  and  trees,  here,  are  all  new  and  strange 
to  me.  I  will  send  you  to-day  some  flowers  I 
have  just  picked:  many  kinds  of  cacti  —  one 
very  plentiful,  with  great  clusters  of  pink 
flowers ;  another  kind,  creeping  and  modest, 
with  a  flat  leaf  and  yellow  flower.  Then  great 
masses  of  verdure ;  no  large  trees,  no  forests  — 
but  only  stunted  pine  on  the  mountain  side, 
disappearing  entirely  as  we  go  upward.  Then 
there  is  a  little  pink  flower  that  blooms  in  the 
gorges  almost  beneath  the  snow,  and  in  the 
valleys  are  cottonwood  and  many  sunflowers. 
The  first  sight  that  greeted  my  gaze,  this  morn 
ing,  was  acres  and  acres  of  these  wild  sunflowers, 
all  with  their  faces  turned  to  the  east,  awaiting 
the  rising  sun,  whose  rays  were  just  seen 
across  the  prairie. 

Do  you  wonder  that  men  worship  the  rising 
sun — it  is  only  following  the  example  of  the 
flowers!  Are  we  sun  worshipers,  too,  dear? 
These  sublime  manifestations  seem  to  bring 
one  face  to  face  with  the  Maker  of  all.  Once 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  205 

in  Boston  I  saw  a  watch  that  did  not  believe  in 
a  watch-maker,  but  it  was  a  miserable  little 
timepiece  —  would  scarcely  run  an  hour,  and 
could  never  be  depended  on ;  besides,  the  case 
was  brass,  silver  plated  so  poorly  and  thinly 
that  the  base  metal  was  evident  to  all. 


NUMBER   LXIX. 

HONOR  HAROLD  TO  MR.  FORBES. 

The  Infinite  has  whispered  to  us  and  we 
have  harkened  to  the  voice.  If  God  has 
spoken  through  men  in  days  agone,  why  not 
now?  "He  changeth  not,"  and  are  we  not 
His  children  ? 

Love  inspires,  and  my  insight  at  times  I  feel 
is  transcendent;  and  you,  too,  have  spoken 
to  me  in  accents  beyond  man's  knowledge. 
We  have  felt  this  Divine  impulse  on  the  street 
or  in  the  woods ;  but,  most  of  all,  in  the  darkness 
and  the  stillness  of  the  night.  Then  have  I 
breathed  your  name  so  gently,  so  softly  —  and 
how  quickly,  how  surely  you  respond.  Per 
fumes  are  the  silent  voices  of  the  flowers ;  and 
as  the  heart  feels  more  keenly  in  the  night- 


206  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

time,  so  do  the  flowers  then  shed  their 
perfumes. 

Many  of  the  most  delicate  flowers  only  blos 
som  at  their  best  when  the  garish  light  has 
fled ;  the  violet  gives  off  its  sweetness  only 
when  moistened  by  the  kiss  of  the  dew.  And 
love's  exquisite  perfume  and  love's  whisper, 
are  sisters  to  the  stars,  and  only  manifest  them 
selves  at  their  best  when  the  sable  curtains  of 
the  night  are  drawn. 

With  the  blind,  all  of  the  other  senses  are 
much  more  acute.  At  night,  when  sight  is 
folded  away,  the  sense  of  smell  and  the  sense  of 
touch,  how  exquisite !  If  love  enhances  the 
faculties  of  the  soul,  how,  too,  does  it  magnify 
and  refine  the  imagination  !  Only  lovers  know 
the  sense  of  touch.  What  consciousness  in 
love's  caress !  How  it  speaks  —  how  it  trans 
ports  ! 

Then  we  speak  of  the  obscurity  of  the  future 
as  darkness ;  and  blessed  darkness  it  is.  If 
man  had  a  headlight  to  his  faculties,  I  fear  he 
would  see  only  the  rocks  and  obscurities  which 
threaten  his  path.  He  would  see,  as  boys  do, 
while  going  through  the  woods  by  moonlight, 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  207 

every  stump  a  crouching  bear;  every  tree  a 
giant  waving  its  wrathful  arms  in  warning; 
every  note  of  night-birds,  the  screech  of 
demons ;  and  the  sighing  of  the  wind,  the 
breath  of  the  damned,  come  back  "  to  walk  the 
earth  by  night." 

But  the  future  is  blank  darkness ;  and  love's 
fervid  imagination  only  pictures  it  with  love's 
delights.  Onward  we  go,  we  know  not  whither; 
but  we  fear  not,  for  it  is  the  Infinite  leading  us. 
And  this  darkness  only  brings  us  closer 
together;  so  why  should  we  not  welcome  it, 
when  in  reality  it  is  brightest  light  —  for  love's 
torch  leads  and  illumines  the  way. 


NUMBER   LXX. 

HONOR    HAROLD    TO    ARTHUR    RIPLEY    FORBES. 

The  popular  meaning  attached  to  the  word 
"  state "  is  very  different  from  the  sense  in 
which  the  Greeks  used  it. 

In  Greece  of  old,  all  works  of  art  or  beauty 
belonged  to  the  state.  It  was  regarded  as  out 
of  place  for  a  man  to  appropriate,  to  himself 


208  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

that  which  could  not  be  destroyed  by  once 
using.  Art  was  for  all ;  and  the  American  plan 
of  filling  palaces  with  works  of  virtu  only  to  be 
seen  by  a  chosen  few,  and  of  fencing  in  beauti 
ful  gardens  and  parks  —  putting  up  threatening 
signs  of  warning  to  intruders — -would  have 
brought  down  the  wrath  of  men,  and  the  dis 
pleasure  of  the  gods. 

When  men  worked  for  selfish  pleasure  or 
personal  gain  they  were  considered  enemies  of 
the  state  —  that  is,  of  the  people.  "I  am  the 
state,"  said  Louis  XIV,  and  he  was  not  much 
out  of  the  way ;  for  as  a  single  drop  of  water 
mirrors  the  globe,  so  each  individual  is  a  repre 
sentative  of  the  state. 

The  word  state  also  means  a  condition  of 
mind.  I  would  preserve  a  state  of  being  so 
pure,  so  holy,  so  gentle,  so  tender,  that  I 
should  be  worthy  to  think,  to  touch  and  to  call 
you.  While  on  earth,  I  would  live  in  the 
highest  heaven,  that  I  may  be  worthy  of  you  ; 
so  that  my  state  may  be  holiness,  purity,  good 
ness  and  love,  and  my  every  mood  a  reflection 
of  God's  will. 

This  were  ideal  —  that   I  might  be  worthy 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  209 

to  call  you  mine ;  that  I  might  be  worthy  to  be 
yours,  day  and  night,  now  and  through  all  eter 
nity.  Then  —  then  we  will  both  be  one  in 
truth,  and  in  being  one  —  a  part  of  God  him 
self.  Take  my  hand,  dearest,  and  together 
let  us  dwell  in  the  heaven  of  heavens,  and 
that  shall  be  our  State. 

We  find  in  life  just  what  we  are  looking  for: 
the  qualities  we  possess  attract  the  like  qualities 
in  others.  If  affection  leads,  affection  is  our 
portion. 

Is  it  jealousy  and  revenge,  we  arouse  these 
instincts  in  others.  "With  whatsoever  meas 
ure  ye  mete  it  shall  be  measured  to  you  again." 

We  receive  from  others  the  treatment  we 
deserve,  for  the  action  of  men  toward  us  is  the 
reflex  action  which  we  ourselves  have  put 
forth.  If  we  have  faith  in  others,  they  will 
put  faith  in  us  ;  and  a  right  mental  attitude  on 
our  part  increases  the  value  of  life  for  all. 


210  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER    LXXI. 

ARTHUR    RIPLEY    FORBES    TO    HONOR    HAROLD. 

You  wrote  me  wisely  about  how  the  soul 
should  preserve  a  certain  state  of  being  and 
not  give  way  to  moods ;  but  mood  in  spirit 
seems  to  me  but  the  action  of  the  law  of 
periodicity. 

The  tide  ebbs  and  flows,  the  sun  rises  and 
goes  his  daily  round,  stars  march  in  solemn 
procession  across  our  range  of  vision,  to 
disappear  and  reappear  again ;  work  and  sleep, 
rest  and  action.  After  the  long  kiss,  the  pulses 
flag  and  stillness  follows ;  then  sleep  sinks  us 
lower  than  the  tide  of  dreams,  and  our  dreams 
watch  us  sink  and  slide  away.  So  my  lady 
knows  full  well  that  this  wondrous  law  of  peri 
odicity  runs  through  the  whole  animate  world, 
from  the  life  of  the  tiniest  insect  or  flower, 
whose  "day  of  probation"  may  be  a  single 
hour,  to  the  march  of  the  seasons,  and  to  the 
birth  and  death  of  worlds. 

"Leaves  have  their  time  to  fall,  and  flowers 
to  wither  at  the  north  wind's  breath,  and  stars 
to  set," 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  211 

If  in  the  material  world  we  find  periodicity, 
must  we  not,  too,  expect  it  in  the  soul  of  man  ? 
And,  at  the  last,  we  shall  find  that  this  life 
here,  is  only  one  of  many  —  only  a  day- — and 
that  to-morrow's  life  will  come,  with  sunrise, 
grand,  sublime. 

Looking  from  my  tent  to  the  towering 
mountains  —  snow-capped,  proud,  majestic  —  I 
see  a  scene  beautiful  beyond  the  power  of  pen  to 
picture.  At  the  base  of  the  foothills  is  a 
plain  covered  with  green  verdure  on  which  our 
horses  feed;  a  little  beyond  are  small  oval  pine 
trees ;  then  a  rippling  brook  makes  melancholy 
plaint,  as  it  goes  hurrying  on  its  way  to  the 
sea.  Beyond  the  stream  rise  tall  trees ;  then 
rocks,  jagged,  broken — hurled  in  wrath  by  the 
gods  from  the  mountain's  summit.  From  these 
rocks  upward,  the  trees  grow  smaller,  stunted, 
dwarfed,  twisted  as  if  in  pain  ;  and  above,  only 
lichens  —  the  pioneers  of  vegetation,  who  trace 
their  ancestry  back  to  the  morning  of  creation. 

Beautiful  is  the  scene  !  Plain,  stream,  woods, 
rocks  and  mountain  sky,  always  in  the  same 
relation ;  but  the  scene,  to  me,  is  never  twice 
alike,  the  view  is  never  just  the  same, 


212  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Perhaps  I  do  not  bring  to  it  the  same  mental 
attitude ;  but  granting  this,  the  reflection  of 
light  and  shade,  sunshine  and  shadow,  which 
play  hide  and  seek  across  the  picture,  are  never 
alike  —  and  these  are  the  moods ;  the  grand 
background  of  it  all,  is  the  state. 


NUMBER  LXXII. 

HONOR  HAROLD  TO  ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES. 

Yes,  my  dear,  I  think  I  understand  what  you 
mean  about  change  being  necessary,  and  a  fixed 
state  of  the  soul  not  being  desirable.  I,  too, 
have  watched  the  changes  of  nature  and  had 
them  fill  my  spirit  with  sublimity.  And  I  am 
prone  to  believe  it  is  the  variety,  that  gives  us 
such  delight. 

Could  I  but  describe  to  you  what  I  saw  last 
night  as  the  sun  was  going  down  —  that  com 
bination  of  the  soft,  gentle  light  of  love  and  the 
grandeur  of  Infinite  Power,  all  intermixed. 
The  coloring  that  no  hand  can  imitate  —  the 
patches  of  sunshine  here  and  there,  like  smiles 
playing  over  the  features  of  a  great  face. 
"Build  thee  more  stately  mansions,  0  my 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  213 

soul !  "  —  and  these  mansions,  my  dear,  were  so 
near,  as  I  stood  high  upon  the  hillside,  that  as 
I  looked  I  felt  myself  almost  free,  so  near  was 
I  to  heaven.  I  have  no  words  to  tell  of  the 
clouds  piled  up  —  billows  on  billows  of  grandest 
glory,  all  tinged  by  the  crimson  of  the  setting 
sun.  But  this  morning  the  sky  is  wholly  unlike 
it  was  yesterday  ;  yet  it  fills  my  soul  so  full  of 
its  beauty  that  I  can  only  softly  whisper  it  to 
you,  as  I  am  now  doing. 

Now,  my  lover,  I  will  tell  you  what  state  is : 
When  anything  fills  your  soul  so  full  of  joy  and 
happiness  that  you  live  —  live  —  LIVE  —  in  a 
state  of  joy  always  changing  yet  ever  the  same 
—  this  is  a  state. 


NUMBER  LXXIII. 

MR.   FORBES  TO  MISS  HAROLD. 

There  is  nothing  that  more  resembles  Divine 
power  than  the  operation  by  which  the  poet, 
with  the  aid  of  the  imagination,  depicts  person 
ages  who  have  never  existed,  and  causes  them 
to  take  a  place  in  our  affection,  in  our  mem 
ories,  and  to  live  forever  as  truly  as  do  the 


214  FORBES  OF  HA  R  VA  RD. 

characters  of  history,  or  those  who  have  been 
formed  by  the  hand  of  the  Most  High. 

Eloquence  is  the  vehicle  of  personal  emotion 
—  a  transference  of  the  speaker's  feelings  to 
the  audience.  Poetry  is  infinitely  more  varied 
in  its  application.  It  is  a  making  manifest,  by 
words,  the  beauty  that  is  in  all  things.  As  dis 
interestedness  is  greater  than  egotism,  so  is 
poetry  beyond  eloquence.  Poetry  may  be  elo 
quent,  but  it  is  more. 


NUMBER  LXXIV. 
MISS  HAROLD  TO  MR.  FORBES. 

MY  LOVER  :  — 

When  you  and  I  have  a  little  cottage  down 
by  the  sea,  or  in  the  mountains,  we  will  not 
only  enthrone  Love  and  make  him  absolute 
monarch ;  but,  carefully,  dear,  I  am  going  to 
drop  —  we  will  have  a  blackboard  on  the  wall. 
No  house  is  complete  without  a  blackboard. 
Alcotts  have  one  in  their  dining-room  ;  and  the 
dining-room  is  also  their  parlor,  sitting-room, 
library,  and  reception  hall;  the  blackboard  is 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  215 

always  in  sight.  Each  morning  one  of  the 
girls  writes  on  the  board  some  beautiful  motto, 
a  verse  of  poetry,  or  draws  a  picture  illustrat 
ing  some  truth  ;  and  there  is  always  quite  a 
curiosity  manifested  as  to  what  will  come  next. 
Then,  at  breakfast,  the  whole  family  discuss 
the  theme  suggested. 


NUMBER  LXXV. 

ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES  TO  HONOR  HAROLD. 

Plant  trees  on  a  barren  plain  and  manage  to 
moisten  their  roots  for  a  few  years,  and  lo  !  the 
clouds  will  come  and  water  them  for  you.  You 
have  really  changed  the  face  of  nature  and  the 
climate.  So  kind  is  the  Infinite  Mother,  that 
she  assists  us  when  we  try  to  work  out  our  own 
salvation  with  joy  and  gladness.  This  is  the 
same  law  that  gives  strength  to  those  who 
work.  Use  a  muscle  —  Nature  assumes  it  is 
necessary,  and  gives  increased  power  in  the 
part.  "To  him  that  hath  shall  be  given." 

The  men  who  will  get  the  most  satisfaction 
out  of  this  Western  country,  will  be  the  bona- 
fide  settlers,  not  the  mere  speculators.  When 


2 16  FORBES  OF  If  A  R  VARD. 

we  see  system  come  from  confusion,  beauty 
from  ugliness,  form  from  chaos,  we  get  a  genu 
ine  satisfaction  from  our  work ;  and  is  not  this 
an  attribute  of  God  himself?  He  develops, 
from  the  stagnant  pond,  the  garden  of  the 
lotus  ;  from  the  dust  of  the  earth,  each  delicate 
perfume ;  and  from  the  soil,  the  daintiest  tint 
that  paints  the  petals  of  each  flower. 

So  we,  to  be  like  Him,  find  joy  in  beautifying 
and  producing  that  which  shall  have  form ;  and 
this  is  what  the  mind  first  looks  for,  on  seeing 
any  object:  first,  form  —  next,  beauty  —  and 
our  pleasure  comes  from  having  made  the 
discovery. 


NUMBER  LXXVI. 

ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES  TO  HONOR  HAROLD. 

You  have  doubtless  noticed  what  delicate 
and  variegated  tints  and  shades  in  colors  are 
produced,  in  the  cultivation  of  flowers,  by  com 
mingling  the  pollen  from  different  plants. 

The. meeting  of  different  minds  in  thought, 
produces  like  rainbow  tints  ;  and  beauty  comes 
to  light,  which  is  a  surprise  to  all. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  217 

NUMBER  LXXVII. 

ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES  TO  HONOR  HAROLD. 

The  present  seems  always  arid  —  profitless; 
but  if  enriched  with  the  treasures  of  the  past, 
and  animated  by  great  hope  for  the  future, 
heaven  can  indeed  be  here  and  now. 

It  requires  the  scope  of  genius  to  appreciate 
the  blessings  of  the  present. 


NUMBER  LXXVIII. 

ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES  TO  HONOR  HAROLD. 

Stinging  harshness  is  the  only  mood  of  many 
who  pride  themselves  on  belonging  to  the  lit 
erati.  In  criticism  they  know  only  one  system 
of  tactics :  the  fixed  bayonet.  In  social  life 
they  take  no  prisoners  for  they  give  no  quarter; 
their  pathway  is  strewn  with  carnage.  Never 
adding  anything  to  the  world's  literature,  they 
have  an  endless  pique  against  those  who  do. 
They  will  take  up  a  book  that  has  cost  years 
of  study  and  work,  and  shelve  it  by  a  wave  of 


218  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

the  hand  and  the  single  exclamation,  "  Rub 
bish  ! "  One  might  suppose  that  some  Herod 
had  sent  them  forth  to  slaughter  all  the  inno 
cents  of  two  years  old  and  under. 

Green  lives,  only  because  he  denounced 
Shakespeare  as  a  plagiarist.  Corneille  had 
nothing  but  bitter  denunciation  for  Moliere. 
Cowley  thought  Chaucer  a  fool,  and  worse. 
Pope  flew  at  the  throat  of  Colley  Gibber. 
Fielding  would  never  have  written  a  line  were 
it  not  for  Richardson,  whom  he  calls  a  mouse- 
colored  ass.  Johnson  said  he  "would  hang  a 
dog  that  read  Lycidas  twice."  Jeffrey  read 
Wordsworth's  simple,  touching  verse  and 
shouted,  "  This  will  never  do  !  "  —  and  the  same 
critic  hanged  on  one  tree  Fennimore  Cooper, 
Walter  Scott,  and  Washington  Irving.  Mon 
tesquieu  died  from  the  stab  of  a  critic's  pen. 
Lowell  has  only  unkindness  for  Thoreau. 
Berkley,  Reid,  Goldsmith,  Shelley,  Keats,  and 
Byron,  in  life  were  always  close  pursued  by 
hounds,  and  felt  their  hot,  rabid  breath  upon 
them.  But,  after  all,  I  believe  there  is  a  slowly 
growing  disposition  to  withhold  off-hand  decis 
ions —  an  appreciation  of  the  fact  that  a  writer 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  219 

on  a  certain  theme  may  possibly  have  given  it 
greater  thought  than  he  who  has  just  read  it. 
In  criticism,  there  are  many  who  read  to 
find  the  good ;  and,  finding  it,  commend.  If 
they  point  out  errors,  they  do  it  in  a  way  which 
gives  the  opposition  an  opportunity  to  retreat  in 
good  order,  without  loss  of  honor  —  as  Socrates 
once  walked  off  from  the  field  of  battle  when 
his  companions  scampered — or,  in  case  of  a 
complete  surrender,  they  are  willing  to  grant 
the  offender  amnesty. 


PART  THREE. 
NUMBER    LXXIX. 

JOHN    HOLWORTHY    TO    ARTHUR    R,    FORBES. 

Holworthy  in  deep  trouble.  The  Mill  Comp- 
pany  do  not  pay  dividends.  Yet  he  assures 
Miss  Meredith  her  stock  will  pay  returns  as 
usual.  If  he  cannot  borrow  money  to  keep 
his  promise,  he  ^vill  suicide,  and  leave  his 
body  to  the  Medical  Department  of  Harvard 
College. 

[On  reading  this  letter  the  first  time,  I  could 
not  persuade  myself  that  it  was  not  a  joke ;  but 
since  I  have  come  to  know  the  character  of  Dr. 
Holworthy,  I  see  that  he  was  very  much  in 
earnest.  The  thought  that  he  might  lose  Miss 
Harold,  if  she  should  find  that  he  had  made 
false  statements,  seems  to  have  frenzied  him 
and  he  swung  over  an  abyss.  Yet  it  was 
the  kindness  of  his  heart  which  first  prompted 
him  to  assure  Miss  Meredith  of  her  dividends. 
The  first  impulse  of  every  heart  is  good;  and, 

220 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  221 

if  wrong  enters,  it  is  an'  after-thought.  Like 
many  another,  he  lacked  the  moral  courage  to 
be  truthful  ;  not  because  he  was  base,  but  on 
account  of  his  weakness.  He  was  young  and 
inexperienced,  then ;  but,  stronger  now,  by  far, 
the  doctor  will  recognize  the  justice  of  my 
remarks  as  he  reads  these  lines.  E.  H.] 

CAMBRIDGE,  Oct.  30,   1851. 
DEAR  ARTHUR  :  — 

It's  all  up.  When  you  get  this,  all  will  be 
over.  The  best  I  can  do  is  to  make  my  will, 
leaving  the  cadaver  to  the  college ;  a  good  sub 
ject  is  worth  full  forty  dollars,  and  this  will 
help  repay  what  they  have  advanced  me. 
Have  not  yet  decided  what  route  I  will  take, 
but  chloroform  is  easy  and  sure ;  morphine  is 
uncertain.  Perhaps  if  I  should  take  it  in  small 
doses,  gradually  increasing  the  quantity,  record 
ing  sensations  and  symptoms  to  the  very  last, 
it  might  be  of  value  to  the  profesh,  and  would 
attract  much  attention  when  published  in  the 
Review.  Keep  your  eye  on  the  Review, 
Arthur. 

The  Livingston  Mill  is  in  awful  bad  shape, 
they  now  say,  and  there  is  no  hope  for  a  divi 
dend  on  Nov.  i st.  If  I  had  the  money,  I 


222  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

would  just  fork  it  over  to  Aunt  Marie  and  say 
nothing;  it's  only  a  hundred  and  eighty! 

The  old  woman  is  still  awfully  twisted  up ; 
can't  get  out  of  bed,  scarcely.  Peabody  has 
been  giving  tincture  of  Strychnos  Ignatia,  but 
no  go. 

The  doctor  asked  me  to  go  over  with  him, 
as  it  was  an  interesting  case ;  and,  first  thing, 
says  the  old  woman,  "  Dr.  Holworthy,  is  the 
Livingston  Mill  Company  going  to  pay  divi 
dends  on  Nov.  ist?"  I  smiled  and  said, 
"Oh,  yes;  just  got  a  letter  from  'em.  Friend 
of  mine  in  the  office,  you  know.  It  may  be  a 
few  days  late  —  just  as  it  was  before.  Let  me 
see  your  tongue,  please." 

Dr.  Holmes  always  talked  to  us  about  bring 
ing  a  cheerful,  helpful  atmosphere  into  the 
sick-room,  as  a  physician's  presence  cures  more 
than  his  medicine.  I  always  bear  this  in 
mind ;  and  once,  when  I  forgot  my  medicine- 
case,  I  fixed  'em  up  four  powders  of  flour  — 
which  I  always  carry  with  me.  This,  taken  in 
aqua  pura  every  four  hours,  cured  in  two  days. 
It  was  my  personal  magnetism,  you  see,  that 
did  the  biz;  so,  wherever  I  go,  I  am  always 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  223 

heavy  on   the  mag.     Aunt    Marie   was    much 
better  the  night  after  I  was  there. 

But  surely  the  Livingston  will  pay  the  divi 
dend.  They  have  skipped  two ;  this  will  put 
them  in  good  shape.  I  would  go  to  Honor ; 
but  —  God  help  me,  old  chum!  —  she  thinks 
the  Mill  Company  paid  the  other,  and  I  will 
have  to  lie  to  her.  I  can  lie  to  anyone  else  on 
earth  and  not  twitch  a  muscle ;  'but  I  can't  lie 
to  the  tall  Iris.  She  looks  right  at  me,  so 
quiet  and  calm,  and  believes  all  I  say.  Then 
I  was  a  little  short  when  the  note  was  due,  and 
she  let  me  renew. 

No ;  don't  tell  me  to  borrow  of  the  Goddess ! 
Can't  do  it.  I'll  try  to  work  some  of  the  boys, 
and  if  the  medicine  does  not  operate  I'll  just 
make  my  will  (have  the  rough  draft  now)  and 
prescribe  Nux  Vomica  for 

Yours  distractedly, 

JACK. 


224  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER   LXXX. 

ARTHUR    R.    FORBES    TO   JOHN    HOLWORTHY. 

Forbes  sends  the  $  1 80  to  Holworthy  to  give  to 
Miss  Meredith.  All  the  money  he  has,  and 
more.  Has  prospect  of  great  increase  in  pay. 

CAMP  CHEYENNE,  NEAR  PIKE'S  PEAK, 
Nov.  25,  1851. 

JOHN  HOLWORTHY. 

DEAR  FRIEND  :  Your  letter  of  3Oth  ult.  just 
received.  I  send  you  by  Wells-Fargo  Over 
land  Express,  one  hundred  eighty  dollars, 
which,  of  course,  you  will  turn  over  to  M.iss 
Meredith  at  once. 

This  takes  all  my  pay  since  I  left  St.  Louis 
and  a  few  dollars  over,  which  I  borrowed  from 
Mr.  Buckthorn.  I  have  in  my  trousers  pocket 
just  sixty-seven  cents,  but  that  is  fully  sixty 
cents  more  than  I  need ;  as  I  have  no  use  for 
tobacco  or  whisky,  and  Uncle  Sam  supplies 
board  and  clothing.  Besides  this,  I  have  a 
prospect  of  better  pay  —  one  hundred  dollars  a 
week  or  more.  The  position  is  open  for  me, 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  225 

and  they  await   my  acceptance.       Would  you 
take  it  ? 

Sincerely  yours, 

ARTHUR  R.  FORBES. 


NUMBER  LXXX. 

JOHN  HOLWORTHY  TO  ARTHUR  R.  FORBES. 

Holworthy  gives  to  Miss  Meredith  tJie  money 
Forbes  Jtas  sent.  She  thinks  of  course  tJie 
money  came  from  the  Mill  Company.  Hoi- 
worthy,  astounded  at  the  prospect  of  Forbes 
getting  one  hundred  dollars  a  week,  begs  him 
to  a  secure  like  position  for  himself. 

CAMBRIDGE,  Dec,  i. 
MY  OWN  DEAR  CHUM  :  — 

Brave,  manly  Arthur  of  the  Round  Table  — 
my  Arthur  —  has  sent  the  8180,  and  I  have 
received  the  money  and  given  it  to  an  old,  help 
less  woman,  who  has  struggled  a  life-time 
through  many  trials  and  tribulations,  working 
always  for  others.  Even  now  she  is  planning 
ways  to  supply  colored  women,  who  have  run 
away  from  slavery,  with  clothing. 


226  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

She  brightened  up  great  when  I  gave  her 
the  crisp  notes.  Honor  was  there,  and  I  waited 
until  she  was  in  the  room.  When  she  saw  me 
give  over  the  money  she  looked  as  suprised  and 
pleased  as  if  it  was  she  who  got  the  money, 
and  they  both  thanked  me,  and  shook  hands 
all  round. 

Honor  was  putting  the  house  to  rights,  and 
I  never  knew  a  broom  could  be  so  becoming  to 
a  woman  before.  I  watched  her  as  she  swept, 
and  if  the  old  woman  had  not  been  there  I 
would  have  tumbled  on  my  knees  right  on  the 
rag  carpet.  She  was  so  gentle  and  kind  to 
the  old  lady,  I  wished  to  the  Lord  I  had 
the  sciatica,  too,  and  told  her  so.  She  did  not 
hear  me,  I  guess.  She  is  so  tall,  so  stately,  so 
gentle,  and  yet  so  proud.  She  speaks  in  such 
a  low,  sweet  voice,  and  is  so  well  poised  I  am 
almost  afraid  of  her. 

But  the  $100  a  week!  Why,  it  turns  my 
head.  I  am  in  the  drug  store  and  get  consider 
able  practice,  and  my  work  in  the  Dispensary 
and  Hospital  besides,  only  brought  me  in  $68.- 
50  since  I  graduated  in  June.  I  always  knew 
you  were  smart.  They  must  have  known  your 


.      FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  227 

average  was  95,  or  they  never  would  have 
offered  you  any  such  place.  If  you  do  not  take 
it,  keep  it  for  me.  I  will  come  on  call.  The 
Iris  will  feel  very  bad,  I  know ;  but  if  I  .can 
get  a  little  start  in  the  world,  I  will  come  back 
for  her.  Couldn't  you  get  a  place  for  us  both 
at  one  hundred  a  week  ?  Why  !  it's  as  much  as 
the  President  of  Harvard  gets. 

Write  just  the  moment  you  get  this  and  tell 
all  about  it. 

Yours  for  business, 

JACK. 


NUMBER    LXXXII. 

THANKFUL  PEEPSON  TO  JOHN  HOLWORTHY. 

Mr.  Pcepson  demands  that  Dr.  Holworthy 
shall  see  that  the  draft  of  $89. 50  is  sent  him 
at  once. 

CONCORD,  MASS.,  Dec.  i,  1851. 

DR.  J.  HOLWORTHY. 

DEAR  SIR  :  By  registered  mail  I  send  this. 

Please  have  your  friends  in  Livingston  Mill  at 


228  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Lowell  mail  me  draft  $89.50,  amount  due  me, 
being  usual  dividend  on  stock  in  said  Co. 

I  will  waive  interest  on  same  since  date  due, 
Nov.  ist,  if  paid  at  once.  I  advise  you  to  act 
promptly. 

Yours  for  truth  and  right, 

J.  PEEPSON. 


NUMBER  LXXXIII. 

DR.  J.   HOLWORTHY  TO  THANKFUL  PEEPSON. 

Dr.  Holworthy  refuses  to  pay  Mr.  Peepson 
any  further  sum,  and  defies  him  in  a  slightly 
sarcastic  note. 

CAMBRIDGE,  MASS.,  Dec.  2,  1851. 
DEACON  PEEPSON. 

POLYP  :  You  once  wrote  me  promising  that  if 
I  sent  you  a  certain  sum  of  money,  I  would 
not  hear  from  you  again.  The  temptation  was 
too  great  and  I  succumbed  ;  but  alas  !  fool  that  I 
was  to  believe  in  the  promises  of  a  microbe. 
Hath  a  pismire  honor,  and  can  a  tape-worm 
keep  a  promise  ?  Hades  yawns  for  thee,  thou 
worse  than  beast. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  229 

Once  I  flung  you  my  purse  ;  now,  I  defy  you, 
scorn  you !  Bologna,  do  your  worst !  My 
address  is 

JOHN  HOLWORTHY,  M.  D., 

CENTRAL  SQUARE  DRUG  STORE, 

CAMBRIDGEPORT,  MASS. 


NUMBER  LXXXIV. 

JOHN    HOLWORTHY    TO    ARTHUR    RIPLEY    FORBES. 

Dr.  Holworthy  once  for  all  decides  to  commit 
suicide  and  so  informs  Mr.  Forbes.  Immediate 
cause  being  the  result  of  an  interview  with 
Miss  Harold.  Full  details  related  in  this 
last  message  to  his  friend. 

[There  are  two  classes  of  men  who  seriously 
contemplate  suicide,  the  weak  and  the  strong. 
The  remark  is  often  made  that  only  a  coward 
is  afraid  to  live,  thus  all  suicides  are  cowards; 
but  the  facts  do  not  bear  out  the  charge.  The 
retort  might  be  made  that  all  who  live  are  cow 
ards  and  afraid  to  die,  and  the  remark  might 
not  come  far  from  truth.  When  outward 
environment  is  adverse  —  circumstances  baf 
fle —  the  weak  man  thinks  of  suicide  as  a 
relief,  but  the  strong  man  rises  to  the  emer- 


230  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

gency  and  is  made  stronger  by  difficulty.  Yet, 
having  conquered  outward  circumstance,  this 
strong  man,  for  lack  of  an  inward  consciousness 
of  right,  may  feel  such  a  dissatisfaction  with 
self  and  with  what  the  future  has  in  store,  that 
he  coolly  surveys  the  prospects,  provides  for 
those  dependent  on  him,  and  departs  hence. 
Such  a  typical  case  occurred  in  Boston  a  few 
weeks  before  this  writing. 

Suicide,  however,  in  nineteen  cases  out  of 
twenty,  occurs  when  reason  is  unseated :  thus 
the  question  of  strength  of  intellect,  or  of 
cowardice,  does  not  enter.  Such  men  as 
Holworthy  very  seldom  become  insane  and 
never  commit  suicide.  Forbes  knew  this,  and 
probably  these  despondent  letters  troubled  him 
but  little.  E.  H.] 


NUMBER  LXXXV. 

CAMBRIDGE,  Dec.  4,   1851. 
To  A.  R.  FORBES. 

DEAR  ARTHUR  :  This  will  be  the  last  letter 
you  will  ever  receive  from  John  Holworthy, 
M.  D.  Up  to  a  certain  point  one  can  bear  the 
ills  and  stings  of  outrageous  fortune ;  but 
beyond  this,  life  becomes  a  mockery.  Thank 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  231 

Heaven,  I  know  a  precipice  over  which  disgrace 
cannot  follow ! 

You  have  said  you  do  not  believe  in 
a  personal  devil ;  but  this  was  because  you 
forgot,  at  the  moment,  Mr.  Thankful  Peep- 
son  of  Concord.  This  monster  went  all  over 
the  village  telling  that  I  was  in  league  with  the 
Livingston  Mill  Company  to  defeat  the  stock 
holders  and  swindle  the  public.  He  told  this  to 
Aunt  Marie,  to  your  mother,  to  the  whole  town  ; 
and  worse  —  ten  thousand  times  worse! — he 
told  it  to  the  Goddess.  But  she  is  the  smartest 
woman  on  earth ;  she  knew  better,  and  told  him 
so  to  his  pious  dough  face  and  County  Galway 
whiskers. 

I  saw  her  this  morning,  and  she  said  she 
wanted  to  walk  with  me.  Think  of  it,  old  man  !  — 
with  me!  Then,  when  we  got  out  of  earshot 
of  your  mother,  she  said,  "Dr.  Hoi  worthy,  I  am 
your  friend,  and  we  can  be  frank  together,  can't 
we?"  I  thought  she  was  going  to  propose; 
although  it  ain't  leap-year.  I  stammered,  "  Most 
certainly!"  and  asked  her  to  take  my  arm. 
"Dr.  Holworthy,"  said  she,  "the  Livingston 
Mill  Company  have  paid  no  dividends  for  a  year. 


232  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

You  paid  those  last  two  dividends  out  of  your 
own  hard-earned  savings  —  laying  by  dollar  by 
dollar,  depriving  yourself  of  many  things  you 
needed  that  the  helpless  woman  might  not  suffer. 
Am  I  right  ? "  She  looked  at  me  with  her  big, 
open  eyes,  and  her  voice  came  so  low  and  sweet. 
I  was  just  drinking  it  in,  not  paying  much 
attention  to  her  words,  when  she  paused  and 
looked  at  me.  I  said,  "Yes  ma'am."  "I  knew  it! 
I  knew  it ! "  she  exclaimed.  "  I  always  knew  you 
had  a  great  and  generous  heart." 

I  was  going  to  speak  right  out,  then  —  I 
clenched  my  hands  and  said  to  myself,  "Now  or 
never!"  —  but  she  kept  right  on  talking  and  I 
got  no  show.  "  I  told  Aunt  Marie  it  was  so ;  for 
that  man  Peepson  had  been  to  her  and  told  her 
that  the  Mill  Company  had  paid  no  dividends  to 
him,  and  that  he  was  going  to  arrest  you  —  and 
much  more  foolishness.  I  divined  how  matters 
stood,  and  went  and  told  him  that  you  had 
doubtless  paid  the  money  out  of  your  own 
pocket." 

Well,  old  man,  I  saw  her  heart  was  touched. 
No  one  on  earth  knows  that  the  money  was  not 
mine  but  you,  and  I  can  trust  my  Arthur.  He 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  233 

will  never  desert  me,  and  it  is  only  for  you  to 
keep  quiet  and  I  will  win  her.  All  is  fair  in 
love  and  war ! 

"I  do  not  blame  you,"  she  said,  "for  not 
explaining  it  all.  You  are  too  modest  to  tell 
the  truth  at  all  times."  (God  help  us,  old  man, 
did  you  hear  that  ?)  "But  now  that  Miss  Mer 
edith  knows  of  your  great  kindness,  you  had 
better  go  to  her  at  once  and  confess  your  fault ; 
she  will  forgive  you.  When  the  truth  dawned 
upon  her  that  you  had  paid  the  money  out  of 
your  own  pocket  she  almost  cried,  your  good 
ness  touched  her  so." 

I  thought  she  was  melted,  and  out  I  spoke, 
"I  love  you,  Honor — I  worship  and  adore 
you  —  will  you  be  mine  ?  "  I  gasped  for  breath, 
the  earth  seemed  to  sweep  from  under  my  feet ; 
I  could  go  no  farther,  although  I  had  written 
out  and  committed  a  beautiful  speech,  which 
took  ten  minutes  to  repeat  in  the  rehearsing. 

She  made  no  reply  for  a  full  minute ;  then 
she  said,  "  Dr.  Holworthy,  you  are  clutching 
my  arm  so  that  it  is  numb."  And,  sure  enough, 
my  fingers  were  digging  right  down  to  the 
humerus.  I  tried  to  apologize,  but  my  tongue 


234  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

was  paralyzed.  She  then  spoke,  in  a  tone  now 
gentle  and  sweeter  than  ever  before  :  "  Dr.  Hoi- 
worthy,  I  respect  you  and  am  your  friend,  as  I 
am  the  friend  of  all  other  good  men  and  women 
everywhere  ;  beyond  this  we  can  be  nothing  to 
each  other.  Now  we  will  forget  the  words  you 
have  just  spoken.  You  will  never  pain  me  by 
repeating  them.  You  must  come  to  see  me,  just 
as  before,  and  we  will  be  friends."  Then  she 
reached  out  her  dear  hand,  with  the  long,  taper 
fingers  all  alive.  I  held  the  hand  just  an 
instant,  and  she  looked  at  me ;  but  I  saw  there 
was  no  love  there  for  me. 

God  forgive  me  for  my  sins,  and  for  what  I 
am  about  to  do  !  There  is  nothing  left  but  to  go 
back  to  chaos  and  try  it  over.  If  there  is  a 
hell  there,  it  can  be  no  worse  than  this.  If  it 
is  oblivion,  I  am  glad.  To-morrow  I  will  know. 
Farewell,  —  farewell.  Remember  me  only  to 
forget. 

Farewell, 

JACK. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  235 


NUMBER   LXXXVI. 


JOHN  HOLWORTHY  TO  ARTHUR  RIPLEY  FORBES. 

When  about  to  take  the  fatal  plunge  the  hand 
of  Dr.  Holworthy  is  stayed  by  what  he  con 
siders  providential  intervention.  A  brilliant 
idea  comes  to  him  ;  he  puts  it  into  execution 
with  melodramatic  swiftness. 

[It  seems  at  first  view  almost  astounding  in 
what  chimerical  schemes  men  will  embark,  con 
vincing  themselves  by  sophistical  reasoning 
that  their  plans  are  safe.  No  doubt  we  all 
have  a  decided  bias  in  favor  of  self,  and  when 
this  is  badly  warped  to  "t'other  side"  by  the 
feverish  hope  of  a  man  in  love,  it  treads  the 
border-land  of  insanity.  Yet  I  find  Dr.  Hoi- 
worthy's  record  at  Harvard  most  excellent  —  his 
average  for  three  years  being  ninety-four  and 
three-quarters  —  which  only  proves  that  a  good 
standing  in  college  does  not  necessarily  imply 
a  goodly  stock  of  that  uncommon  article  com 
mon-sense. 

Not  every  man  who  owns  a  gun  can  hit 
the  bull's-eye.  And  they  say  it  sometimes  hap 
pens  that  when  men  tarry  too  long  at  the 
books,  intellectual  strabismus  follows,  so  that 
accurate  marksmanship  in  worldly  affairs  is 
well-nigh  impossible.  Learning  sometimes  is 
only  sterility.  E.  H.] 


236  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

CAMBRIDGE,  Dec.  6,  1851. 
HELLO  OLD  MAN  :  — 

I  wrote  you  in  the  dumps  yesterday,  but 
hasten  to  mail  this  to  relieve  you  of  anxiety. 
If  you  get  the  letters  at  the  same  time,  burn 
the  other  before  you  read  it. 

I  fully  intended  to  depart  hence,  and  you 
know  when  I  decide  on  a  thing  it  is  mighty  apt 
to  be  a  go.  But,  like  Abraham,  my  hand  was 
stayed.  (I  was  doing  both  parts  — I  was  Abe  and 
Ike  both.  Ha,  ha! — pretty  good  —  don't  you 
think  so?)  I  had  measured  out  the  dose  in  a 
graduate  glass  —  one  and  one-half  ounce  double 
Tinct.  Belladonna  —  when,  by  the  great  Josiah 
Quincy !  the  thought  struck  me  athwart  the 
diaphragm,  and  I  took  two  fingers  Spirits  Fru- 
menti  instead  of  the  Belladonna,  and  sat  down 
to  think  it  over. 

Yes ;  she  said  I  had  a  g-r-e-a-t  and  g-e-n-e-r- 
o-u-s  heart  —  the  exact  words.  Now,  if  I  could 
only  prove  to  her  that  I  had  a  g-r-e-a-t  and 
g-i-g-a-n-t-i-c  intellect,  she  would  see  at  once 
that  I  was  her  heaven-appointed  mate. 

Yes,  old  man,  I  did  it !  Straight  to  Concord, 
and  into  old  Smith's  drug  store,  I  went ;  told 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  237 

him  I  was  a  trifle  off  in  my  lumbar  region,  and 
wanted  to  prescribe  for  myself.  "  All  right ; 
help  yourself,  Jack !"  said  he.  (He  is  always 
too  lazy  to  get  up.) 

Two  oz.  Spin  Frumenti.  Aqua  pura  three 
drops.  Mix.  Take  at  one  dose.  Then  I  went 
straight  over  to  the  bank  across  the  street,  and 
said,  "Morning,  Mr.  Becket !  I  just  ran  in  to 
get  those  Mill  Certifs  that  Miss  Meredith  left 
here.  I  am  looking  after  her  affairs  ;  she's  all , 
crippled  up,  you  know.  How  are  the  folks  ? 
How's  the  old  lady  ?  How  are  the  girls  ?  and 
how's  the  baby  ?  " 

It  worked.  He  went  back  to  the  vault,  and 
handed  out  a  big  brown  envelope  with  Aunt 
Marie's  name  on  it,  and  said  the  baby  had  the 
mumps  but  was  getting  over  them. 

"You  are  looking  well,  Mr.  Becket,"  says  I ; 
"good  day  !  "  — and  out  I  walked,  first  buttoning 
that  big  envelope  very  tight  inside  my  coat. 
Went  straight  to  Aunt  Marie's,  for  Honor  is 
taking  care  of  her. 

Your  aunt  began  to  thank  me,  first  thing, 
for  all  I  had  done.  Said  she  could  never  repay 
me  —  and  all  such  gush,  just  as  a  woman  will  — 


238  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

for  the  mill  stock  could  not  be  sold,  and  would 
never  pay  a  dividend ;  she  was  going  to  the 
poor-house,  etc. 

Finally  I  shut  her  off  by  saying  :  "  Here,  now, 
I  have  come  to  pay  you  a  professional  visit. 
Let  me  see.  your  tongue,  not  hear  it."  Then  I 
felt  her  pulse,  took  out  my  watch  as  if  to  count 
it,  and  said,  off-hand  like :  "  Oh,  your  money  is 
all  right !  Now,  will  you  both  agree  to  trust 
me  and  ask  no  question  if  I  tell  you  something 
very  important  ?  "  They  agreed. 

"  Well,  I  saw  the  crash  coming,  —  got  a 
pointer  from  a  friend  in  the  Hide  and  Leather, 
and  I  went  ahead  and  sold  your  stock  over 
six  months  ago  and  invested  the  money  in  Old 
Colony.  They  were  coupon  certifs,  so  you 
didn't  have  to  sign  'em.  A  little  cheeky,  I'll 
admit ;  but  you  were  down  abed,  and  there  was 
no  time  to  consult.  I  did  not  want  to  confess 
it,  yesterday,  to  Miss  Honor  ;  but  the  last  money 
I  gave  you  was  the  divy  on  Old  Colony  —  the 
first,  I  paid  out  of  my  own  pocket.  You  are  so 
much  better,  to-day,  I  am  not  afraid  to  tell  you 
the  truth.  Let's  tell  the  truth  and  shame  the 
devil.  Now,  then,  that's  all  there  is  about  it ; 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  239 

and  twice  a  year  I  will  see  that  you  get  the  divy 
on  O.  C." 

Both  women  raised  their  hands,  and  screamed 
with  surprise.  They  started  to  ask  questions. 
"There!"  said  I  ;  "what  did  you  promise?" 
Then  they  subsided,  and  I  said,  as  I  started 
away :  "Oh,  we  men  can  look  after  the  financial 
side  all  right !  We  are  out  among  'em  and 
know  what's  going  on." 

Aunt  Marie  wrung  my  hand  and  kissed  me 
(probably  the  first  man  she  has  kissed  in  forty 
years).  I  wiped  off  the  kiss,  and  waited  for  the 
other  to  follow  suit ;  but  she  passed,  and  shook 
my  hand  instead.  Her  look  was  not  the  same 
disinterested  one  she  gave  before  —  not  much. 

Well,  you  ask,  as  you  put  your  feet  on  the 
table,  What  are  you  going  to  do  next?  —  and, 
old  man,  if  you  will  wait  a  second,  I  will  tell 
you. 

They  say  the  mill  is  in  bad  shape ;  I  know 
better.  Butler  is  receiver,  and  he  is  a  hum 
mer.  He  will  make  it  pay.  You  see  now  ? 
Well,  when  they  pay  the  next  dividend,  I  will 
just  tell  the  girls  that  I  sold  the  Old  Colony 
and  bought  Livingston,  and  nobody  is  hurt,  but 


240  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

all  hands  much  pleased,  and  now  she  believes 
I  have  a  g-r-e-a-t  head. 

I  always  provide  for  accidents,  old  chum  ;  and 
if,  through  any  accident,  the  mill  does  not  pay 
a  divy,  I  can  easily  pay  the  $180  out  of  my 
own  pocket  (I  charged  on  books  to-day  $7 .50). 
Can't  you  see,  stupid  ?  And  before  a  second 
dividend-day  rolls  around,  it's  ten  to  one,  the 
old  woman  will  be  dead.  This  rheumatism 
may  go  to  her  heart  any  day  ;  and  then  —  don't 
you  know,  dullard!  —  we  will  be  married  in  less 
than  three  months ! 

After  the  old  woman  is  under  the  ground  she 
will  have  no  use  for  money  anyway,  and  I  will 
give  her  mill  certifs  over  to  her  executor  to  sell 
for  waste  paper.  Rah,  Rah,  Rah,  Rah,  Rah, 
H-A-R-V-A-R-D.  Congratulate  me,  old  chum  ; 
and  believe  me  ever  to  be  your  own, 

JACK. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  241 

NUMBER  LXXXVII. 

ARTHUR  R.  FORBES  TO  JOHN  HOLWORTHY. 

Mr.  Forbes  deprecates  the  hasty,  ill-advised 
course  of  Dr.  Holworthy  and  begs  him  to 
change  his  plans. 

CAMP  CHEYENNE,  KANSAS.  TERRITORY, 

Dec.  24,  1851. 
MY  DEAR  JACK  :  — 

Your  letters  of  the  5th,  and  6th  inst.  were 
brought  in  by  the  courier  last  night.  You 
have  pained  me,  dear  chum ;  for  you  have 
wronged  your  own  soul  by  these  falsehoods 
you  have  told.  I  know  full  well  that  you  have 
done  this  thing  for  the  benefit  of  another,  and 
that  you  yourself  do  not  expect  to  thrive  by 
this  operation ;  but  yet  you  are  striving  to 
make  a  favorable  impression  on  Miss  Harold. 
Do  you  not  know  that  all  striving  for  effect  is 
fruitless  ?  We  deceive  nobody  but  ourselves. 
Now,  supposing  you  could  convince  Miss 
Harold  that  you  are  a  great  and  far-seeing 
man,  and  you  should  marry  her :  surely  she 
would  find  out,  some  day,  that  you  are  only 
Jack  Holworthy  —  and  then  ! 


242  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

And  how  would  this  unmasking  affect  you 
and  her?  Would  it  give  peace  and  happiness  ? 
My  old,  hot-headed,  impulsive,  affectionate 
chum  should  pass  for  just  what  he  is.  He  is 
a  fine  fellow  and  needs  no  whitewash.  Quit 
the  dissembling,  my  boy ;  get  back  at  all  cost. 
These  falsehoods  will  surely  unhorse  you,  if 
persisted  in. 

I  cannot  advise  you  just  how  ;  but  get  back  to 
truth,  my  boy,  for  your  Arthur's  sake.  You 
and  I  have  had  our  little  fling  together  ;  but 
now  we  are  men,  and  let  us  act  a  brave  and 
manly  part. 

You  speak  of  what  you  are  pleased  to  call 
"  Spir.  Frumenti "  as  a  cure  for  all  ills,  but  it 
is  an  enemy  that  is  stealing  away  your  brains. 

I  am  making  more  money  than  ever  before. 
Yes,  my  salary  is  more  than  that  of  Sparks. 
If  you  want  to  help  Aunt  Marie,  as  I  know  you 
do,  just  tell  her  the  whole  truth,  and  assure 
her  you  have  plenty  of  money  so  she  will  never 
suffer — I  will  send  you  what  is  required. 

Believe  me,  dear  old  chum,  to  be  ever 
Sincerely  yours, 

ARTHUR  R.   FORBES. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  243 

NUMBER    LXXXVIII. 

ARTHUR  R.  FORBES  TO  JOHN  HOLWORTHY. 

Mr.  Forbes  describes  what  his  peculiar  work  is. 
Rides  by  night  between  the  setting  and  rising 
sun,  eighty  miles  twice  a  zveek,  as  mail  carrier 
or  courier.  Vivid  pictures  of  the  darkness. 
Accedes  to  reqiiest  of  Dr.  Holworthy,  and 
will  get  him  similar  work. 

[In  a  former  letter  Forbes  stated  that  this 
work  would  pay  $100  per  week,  a  statement  I 
could  hardly  credit.  But  the  following  letter 
I  have  just  received,  throws  light  on  the  cause 
why..  E.  H. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT. 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C,  April  2,  1893. 
To  ELBERT  HUBBARD,  ESQ. 

DEAR  SIR  :  Your  letter  of  March  2/th 
received,  wherein  you  request,  for  historical 
purposes,  information  as  to  maximum  compen 
sation  paid  to  individual  mail  carriers  or 
couriers,  during  years  1851  and  1852. 

In  reply  will  say  the  records  show  the  work, 
where  extra  hazardous,  was  done  by  volunteers, 
and  the  payment  seemed  to  follow  the  law  of 
Supply  and  Demand.  If  couriers  on  certain 
routes  were  killed,  volunteers  were  asked  for 
and  the  compensation  increased  to  a  point 
where  someone  would  step  forward. 


244  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Thus  I  find  as  high  as  one  thousand  dollars 
a  month  was  paid,  for  a  short  time  on  the  route 
between  Forts  Laramie  and  Assinaboine.  I 
beg  to  suggest  that  the  life  of  Gen.  John  C. 
Fremont,  also  Buell's  History  of  the  Plains,  will 
give  you  facts  of  interest  on  this  theme. 
Yours,  etc., 

DANIEL  M.  LAMONT, 

Secy  of  War.~\ 


BAD  MAN'S  GULCH,  ROCKY  MTS., 

Dec.  28,  1851. 

MY  DEAR  JACK  :  — 

I  have  not  written  anyone  at  home  just  what 
I  am  doing,  for  they  might  worry  about  it. 
But  the  fact  is,  there  is  not  much,  danger,  after 
all.  A  countryman  going  into  Boston,  is 
amazed  to  think  that  many  people  are  not  killed 
crossing  Tremont  Street,  where  the  travel  is  so 
dense  and  the  teams  are  clattering  up  and 
down  the  narrow  thoroughfare  over  the  stony 
pavement.  But  a  woman  could  cross  there  ten 
times  a  day  for  twenty  years,  before  an  accident 
would  befall  her. 

Well,  you  quiet,  peaceful  people  would  sup 
pose  I  am  in  a  dangerous  business,  but  it  is 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  245 

because  you  fear  the   unknown.      I   know  the 
dangers,  therefore  I  am  not  afraid. 

I  carry  the  mail  from  this  camp  to  Fort  San 
Jacinto  —  just  eighty  miles.  By  the  wagon  road 
it  is  only  seventy-two,  but  I  take  a  trail  or  path 
through  the  mountains  instead  ;  for  there  are  hos 
tile  Indians  all  about,  and  to  fall  into  their  hands 
would  be  sure  death.  The  miners  and  trappers 
have  made  the  game  scarce,  and  in  fact  the 
Indians  have  just  cause  for  complaint,  for  the 
whites  have  over-run  their  country ;  and  if  they 
utter  a  protest,  the  answer  is  the  significant 
one  of  simply  patting  the  stock  of  a  rifle.  So 
the  Indian  looks  upon  every  white  as  his 
enemy.  They  prowl  around  our  camp,  and 
swooped  down  last  week  like  a  cyclone,  yelling, 
pounding  on  dried  skins,  and  stampeded  our 
horses  that  were  grazing  not  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  from  the  fort,  killing  right  before  our 
eyes  a  soldier  who  was  herding  the  stock. 

We  tried  to  follow  with  a  posse  of  soldiers, 
but  our  best  horses  were  gone ;  and  the  Indians 
divided  into  three  parties,  and  were  soon  lost 
among  the  rocks  where  we  could  not  follow. 

Now,  if  I  would  ride  out  alone  in  the  day- 


246  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

time,  the  chances  are  I  would  be  watched  and 
killed  by  Indians  in  an  hour.  At  any  rate,  they 
would  head  me  off,  so  I  could  not  get  back. 
My  horse  might  outrun  theirs  for  a  time,  but 
my  scalp  would  eventually  adorn  some  dusky 
warrior's  girdle.  So  I  ride  by  night,  leaving 
this  camp  any  evening  I  wish.  I  select  a 
strong  young  horse  or  mule,  and  ride  the  eighty 
miles  before  daylight  the  next  morning.  It  is 
hard  on  the  mule,  to  be  sure.  And  the  one  I 
rode  three  weeks  ago,  died  an  hour  after  I  got 
in  —  but  Uncle  Sam  is  rich. 

The  darkness  is  our  protector.  In  the  night 
we  are  safe.  The  one  thing  to  fear  is  daylight. 
There  are  six  different  routes,  and  I  take  just 
which  I  choose ;  never  going  by  the  same  trail 
twice,  so  the  Indians  are  not  very  apt  to  way 
lay  me,  not  knowing  which  road  I  will  take,  or 
what  night  to  look  for  me.  Another  thing,  the 
Indian  knows  nothing  of  system,  and  could  not 
possibly  comprehend  why  a  single  rider  should 
make  the  trip  at  all.  He  gets  no  mail,  and  if 
you  will  turn  to  your  Sidney  Smith,  you  will  see 
that  Moral  Philosophy  says  we  cannot  imagine 
things  which  we  have  not  seen.  So  the  stupid 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  247 

Blackfeet  really  do  not  know  that  a  man  rides 
regularly  each  week  between  these  forts,  and 
thus  he  is  safe. 

It's  a  hard  ride;  ten  miles  an  hour  means 
your  horse  on  a  stiff  gallop.  I  usually  select  a 
mule,  though,  as  they  are  surer  footed.  It's 
only  two  nights  a  week,  down  and  back.  The 
darker  the  night  the  better,  for  I  can  always 
see  the  snow-capped  mountain  peaks,  and  I 
guide  my  course  by  these. 

The  trails  are  deep  paths  made  by  buffaloes, 
and  you  can  safely  trust  the  mule  to  stick  to 
the  path  —  in  fact,  it  would  be  hard  to  force 
him  off  the  trail.  I  carry  a  rifle,  looped  over 
the  horn  of  the  saddle,  with  my  right  hand  on 
the  stock  to  steady  it ;  two  revolvers  and  a 
knife  —  so  you  see  I  am  always  ready  to  protect 
myself  quickly.  Very  few  of  the  Indians  have 
fire-arms,  and  they  have  a  superstitious  dread 
of  them  ;  so  you  see,  after  all,  the  risk  is  very 
slight. 

As  the  mule  gallops  I  lean  forward,  close 
my  eyes  in  sleep,  and  dream  of  old  Hollis,  and 
the  boys  of  '52.  There  you  are  —  six  hundred 
men  sleeping  within  the  bounds  of  Harvard 


248  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Yard,  all  with  nightmare  for  fear  of  the 
approaching  Exam. — and  I  alone  with  God 
on  a  mountain  side  at  midnight.  Not  a 
human  being,  save  savages,  within  forty  miles. 
Snow-capped  spires  lift  their  heads  against 
the  blackness  of  the  sky ;  and,  adown  the 
valleys,  stretching  off  into  the  night,  the 
shadows  make  deep  gulfs  that  speak  of  depths 
unsounded.  Then  once  more  I  lift  my  eyes 
to  the  hills  from  whence  cometh  my  strength 
and  a  prayer  comes  to  my  lips :  "  I  thank 
thee,  my  God,  that  thou  hast  made  me  a 
man  —  that  I  can  live,  enjoy,  appreciate,  and 
know  somewhat  of  thy  greatness." 

Do  not  laugh,  Jack,  because  I  pray.  I  never 
did  before,  to  be  sure;  but  this  solitude,  and 
the  grandeur  of  the  night,  fills  me  with  a  sense 
of  sublimity  which  before  I  knew  not  of. 

Believe  me,  dear  Jack,  I  am 

Ever  your  old  chum, 

ARTHUR. 

P.  S.  Yes,  I  can  get  you  a  place.  The 
last  man  on  my  route  was  killed,  but  it  was 
because  he  was  so  foolhardy  as  to  take  the 


FORBES  OF  HA  P  V4  KD.  249 

wagon  road  through  the  valley.  Gooseberry 
Jake  rides  the  Laramie  trail.  He  will  let  you 
take  it  half  the  time.  When  will  you  be  here  ? 


NUMBER  LXXXIX. 

JOHN    HOLWORTHY    TO    ARTHUR    R.    FORBES. 

Dr.  Holworthy  writes  a  breezy  letter  in  which 
he  makes  the  subtile  suggestion  that  Mr. 
Forbes  must  be  in  love.  Thinks  the  position 
of  scout  is  not  adapted  to  his  own  particular 
wants.  When  he  enlists  proposes  to  go  as  a 
general.  Relates  the  evidences  of  prosperity. 

CAMBRIDGE,  Jan.   19,   1852. 
DEAR  ARTHUR  :  — 

Your  very  entertaining  letter  received. 
You  seem  a  trifle  broke  up,  old  man.  Your 
liver  is  not  working  just  right,  I  guess;  try 
blue  pill,  with  whiskey  and  quinine.  When  a 
sensible  man  begins  to  pray  and  talk  poetry, 
it's  one  of  two  things,  dead  sure  —  diagnosis 


250  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

unfailing ;  it's  his  liver,  Arthur,  or,  by  the  great 
Epictetus,  he  is  in  love.  You  said  there  are 
no  women  in  the  West  but  squaws,  so  my  pro 
fessional  opinion  is  that  it's  insufficient  flow  of 
bile. 

Do  not  worry  about  that  little  affair  of 
Livingston  Mill  stock.  It  is  not  in  the  shape  I 
wish  it  was,  and  if  I  had  the  thing  to  do  over,  I 
would  not  do  what  I  have  done,  but  I  am  in 
for  it  now.  My  steps  cannot  be  retraced,  so 
I  will  just  carry  it  through,  and  keep  you  fully 
informed. 

What  a  curious  streak  it  is  in  humanity  that 
we  must  tell  someone  all  about  our  joys  and 
sorrows !  All  is  divided  with  the  friend.  I 
rather  think,  though,  that  you  never  told  me  as 
much  of  your  heart  as  I  have  told  you  of  mine. 
Perhaps  you  do  not  feel  so  deeply — you  are 
not  so  sensitive.  You  are  exoteric  rather  than 
esoteric,  "  if  I  may  be  allowed  the  expression," 
as  Pennaworth  would  say. 

About  the  place,  though,  old  chum  — you  are 
very  kind,  but  I  do  not  think  the  night  air 
would  agree  with  me.  I  never  could  ride 
horseback,  anyway — and  the  being  alone  forty 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  251 

miles  from  a  human  soul !  Why,  I  was 
never  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  my  folks  in  all 
my  twenty-six  years !  Once  I  got  into  Boston 
at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  on  a  train,  and  I 
felt  awful  queer  walking  up  the  street — only  a 
policeman  here  and  there,  and  it  did  make  me 
feel  a  little  shaky.  Now,  how  would  I  look  out 
on  a  mountain  side,  with  only  a  mule,  and 
expecting  to  fall  off  every  minute  at  that! 
Why,  it  makes  me  creep  all  up  and  down  my 
spinal  column  to  think  of  it !  How,  in  Heaven's 
name,  can  you  stand  it,  Arthur?  You  are  wel 
come  to  the  hundred  dollars  a  week.  It's  a  lot 
of  money,  I  know ;  but  it  would  not  tempt  me 
to  ride  a  mule  eighty  miles,  even  here,  where 
there  are  no  Indians  —  day-time,  besides. 

I  am  getting  quite  a  little  practice  outside  of 
the  drug  store  —  have  three  cases  of  fever, 
one  measles,  and  expect  two  obstetrics  up  in 
the  Smith  tenement  house  some  time  next 
month.  Collected  $4.85  last  week.  Charged 
on  books  $37.50,  so  you  see  I  am  making 
money. 

Yours  for  keeps, 

JACK. 


252  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

P.  S.  When  I  enlist,  if  I  ever  do,  I  will 
enlist  for  a  general.  How's  that,  old  man  !  A 
woman  just  came  in  to  say  that  I  must  stay 
near  home,  as  I  might  be  called  up  at  the  ten- 
ement  house  most  any  time  now. 


NUMBER   XC.    • 

ARTHUR  R.  FORBES  TO  JOHN  HOLWORTHY. 

Private  Forbes  gets  into  an  altercation  by  refus 
ing  to  carry  out  a  brutal  order  of  his  captain. 
Is  threatened  with  dire  penalties.  Thinks 
best  to  tell  his  own  side  of  the  story; 
thinking,  perliaps,  word  of  his  dis 
grace  (?}  may  reach  his  Cambridge  friends. 
Seems  slightly  down-hearted,  as  if  he  felt  afore- 
boding  of  coming  evil.  Tells  Holwortliy  he 
does  not  think  Livingston  Mill  will  pay 
dividends,  so  sends,  $360  to  insure  payment  of 
interest  to  Miss  Meredith  for  at  least  a  year. 

FORT  SAN  JACINTO,  Feb.  20. 
MY  DEAR  JACK  :  — 

A  little  circumstance  has  come  up  here  that 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  253 

may  make  me  trouble.  Just  how  much,  I  do  not 
know  —  but  here  goes.  You  have  inflicted  me 
with  your  troubles,  now  I  will  do  as  much  for 
you. 

The  captain  of  the  fort  here  is  one  Snyder ; 
and,  being  clothed  in  a  little  brief  authority,  he 
doth  cut  such  fantastic  tricks  before  high 
Heaven  as  make  angels  weep.  He  is  a  cox 
comb  of  the  coxcombs,  and  never  thinks  "of 
speaking  to  a  private  under  any  considerations, 
no  more  than  if  we  were  hitching  posts.  Gen 
erally  there  is  a  fine  fraternal  feeling  among 
the  officers  and  men  in  these  out  of  the  way 
places,  for  where  danger  lurks  formality  ceases. 
Just  a  little  letting  up  on  the  stern  discipline 
of  military  system.  But  this  Snyder  got  the 
appointment  here  by  some  kind  of  political 
huckstering,  and  is  fresh  from  some  fort  in  the 
East,  where  they  shoot  nothing  but  blank  car 
tridges.  He  demands  a  present  arms  and  salute 
from  every  man,  wherever  we  happen  to  meet 
him.  Hitching  posts  get  no  recognition,  but  the 
aforesaid  have  to  recognize. 

Yesterday  the  gallant  captain  was  out  in  his 
gilt  and  feathers,  admiring  his  shadow ;  and 


254  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

when  passing  a  young  fellow  who  sat  on  a  log 
smoking,  our  young  fellow  failed  to  salute. 

Snyder  was  furious,  and  turned  back  and 
asked  the  soldier  if  he  knew  who  he  (Snyder) 
was.  The  fellow  said  he  "  did  not,  but  would 
much  like  an  introduction."  I  was  near,  clean 
ing  up  my  saddle,  when  Snyder  roared  in  my 
direction  and  ordered  me  to  take  my  rifle  and 
arrest  the  man.  I  did  so,  and  marched  the  lad 
inside  the  fort ;  when  two  more  soldiers  were 
called  up,  and  I  was  ordered  to  tie  the  offender 
up  by  the  thumbs  and  give  him  twenty  lashes 
with  the  quirt.  I  had  been  in  an  Indian  skir 
mish  with  the  boy  and  knew  he  was  brave  and  a 
good  soldier,  and  the  order  to  lay  on  the  lash 
was  only  a  burst  of  passion  — an  arbitrary  whim. 
And  I  told  Snyder  as  much,  putting  it  in  mild 
and  persuasive  language  —  but  no  good.  He 
then  ordered  three  more  men  to  tie  me  up  by 
the  thumbs  and  give  me  thirty  lashes  on  the 
bare  back.  I  took  off  my  coat  ready  to  be 
thrashed,  but  not  a  man  of  all  the  hundred 
would  lift  his  finger  against  me  ;  and  so  the 
result  was  that  neither  the  soldier  nor  I  was 
whipped. 


.   FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  255 

Snyder  threatened  to  shoot  me ;  but  casting 
a  look  around  among  the  boys,  several  of  whom 
had  their  hands  on  their  pistols,  he  changed  his 
mind.  I  went  to  him,  after  an  hour,  and  tried 
to  apologize ;  but  he  refused  to  talk  with  me, 
merely  saying  he  had  "  made  information 
against  me  for  mutiny  and  as  soon  as  a  new 
company  of  soldiers  could  be  got  here  he  would 
court-martial  me,  and  a  courier  had  already  been 
sent  off  with  the  order  for  troops."  I  think  the 
courier  did  not  know  what  sort  of  a  message  he 
was  carrying,  or  he  would  not  have  gone. 

Military  regulations  are  very  stiff  and  arbi 
trary —  they  have  to  be,  I  suppose;  but  injus 
tice  is  sometimes  done  in  these  out  of  the  way 
spots,  where  authority  is  vested  in  the  hands  of 
hot-headed,  ignorant  men. 

Of  course  I  could  run  away ;  but  I  told  Sny 
der  I  would  stay  and  see  it  through. 

I  ride  the  route  to  the  Gulch  to-night,  and 
back  next  week.  If  Snyder  had  the  power  he 
would  put  me  in  irons ;  but  there  is  none  to  do 
it,  so  I  propose  to  go  right  ahead  and  do  my  duty, 
just  as  if  nothing  had  happened.  I  understand 
that  the  President  of  the  United  States  alone 


256  FOKBES  OF  HARVARD. 

has  power  to  grant  pardon  to  mutinous  soldiers 
(it  is  a  base  mutineer  who  writes  you  this),  and 
if  Snyder  pushes  the  matter  which  I  hardly 
think  he  will  do)  it  may  possibly  be  necessary 
for  my  old  chum  to  interest  some  of  the  Pro 
fessors  in  my  case  —  get  them  to  sign  a  petition 
in  my  favor,  sending  it  to  the  President. 
Some  men  never  enjoy  the  honor  of  having  the 
President  of  the  United  States  interest  him 
self  in  their  behalf.  Well,  I  will  never  be 
president,  so  the  next  best  thing  is  to  have  one 
pardon  me  —  grant  me  absolution,  as  it  were. 

I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  Liv 
ingston  Mill  will  not  pay  any  dividend  in  the 
near  future.  When  a  receiver  is  appointed 
there  is  little  hope  for  the  stockholders.  It 
will  never  do  to  leave  Aunt  Marie  without  an 
income,  and  it  may  happen  you  will  not  have 
the  money  when  the  dividend-day  rolls  around, 
and,  as  I  was  paid  off  last  week,  I  have  sent  you 
$360,  which  will  cover  a  yearns  interest  on  your 
Old  Colony. 

It  may  interest  you  to  know  that  I  weigh 
more  than  ever  before  in  my  life,  and  if  I  ever 
was  sick  I  have  forgotten  it.  About  my  books  — 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  257 

oh,  just  divide  them  up,  and  let  Bridges  give 
them  to  the  new-comers  who  need  them  most. 
Some  of  the  boys  are  not  burdened  with  wealth, 
and  they  always  appreciate  these  little  favors. 

Affectionately, 

ARTHUR. 


NUMBER    XCI. 

CAPT.  J.  M.  SNYDER  TO  GEN.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

Captain  Snyders  -version  of  the  difficulty. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  MISSOURI. 
FORT  SAN  JACINTO,  Feb.  20,  1852. 

SIR:  —  I  beg  to  report  that  an  insurrection, 
headed  by  a  brigand  named  Forbes,  has  occurred 
among  my  troops. 

My  orders  are  totally  disregarded,  and  to-day 
the  men  stood  about  with  hands  on  their  small 
arms  and  threatened  to  shoot  me.  I  am  pow 
erless,  and  practically  a  prisoner.  This  Forbes 
is  a  mail  carrier  and  scout  —  a  desperate  charag- 


258  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

ter,  and  seems  to  have  secured  a  most  undue 
influence  among  the  command. 

There  were  none  who  would  assist  me  in 
placing  him  in  irons.  Send  a  company  at  once 
to  my  rescue. 

SNYDER,  Commanding. 


NUMBER  XCII. 

CAPT.  J.  M.  SNYDER  TO  GEN.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

Another  letter  from  Captain  Snyder,  in  which 
he  reports  that  Forbes  has  fled,  taking  with 
him  a  large  amount  of  money.  Description 
of  the  deserter. 

FORT  SAN  JACINTO,  Feb.  27,  1852. 
GEN.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT,  FORT  ROCKY  FALLS. 

SIR  :  I  beg  to  report  that  since  advising  you 
of  mutiny  in  my  command,  leader  of  insurrec 
tion  has  deserted,  taking  with  him  mail  and 
package  of  $788,  said  money  being  consigned 
to  paymaster,  Fort  Alamo. 

With  disappearance  of  mutineer,  have  been 
able  to  regain  command  and  put  down  insurrec 
tion,  so  cancel  request  for  troops.  I  give 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  259 

description  of  deserter  so  you  can  issue  order 
for  arrest.  Charges  against  him  would  be  :  ist, 
Mutiny;  2d,  Grand  larceny;  3d,  Desertion; 
4th,  Inciting  insurrection.  Right  name  un 
known,  but  calls  himself  Arthur  Ripper  Forbes. 
Sometimes  called  Raw-Raw ;  at  others,  Fifty-two. 
(This  supposed  to  have  been  his  number  in 
some  prison.)  Born  at  Harvard,  Conn.,  and 
evidently  once  employed  by  firm  of  Staunch  & 
Trew,  as  he  often  refers  to  them.  Height, 
6  ft.  3  in.;  weight,  180;  erect  carriage,  dark 
complexion,  talks  little.  At  first  view  his 
habits  seem  proper,  religious — reads  church 
service  where  death  occurs  in  camp — same  at 
times  on  Sunday  —  this  evidently  to  make  a 
good  impression  ;  good  horseman,  sharp  shooter, 
hard  hitter  and  handy  with  knife.  Makes 
friends  easily,  and  is  apt  to  deceive  all  but  the 
most  discerning.  Is  very  cool-headed,  and 
great  care  must  be  used  in  making  arrest  as  he 
shoots  quick  and  to  kill. 

J.  M.  SNYDER,  Captain, 


260  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  XCIII. 

JACOB    BUCKTHORN    TO    HONOR    HAROLD. 

Mr.  Buckthorn  tells  of  the  disappearance  and 
shows  his  appreciation  of  the  character  of  Mr. 
Forbes.  Puts  in  a  good  word  for  himself. 

[In  the  letters  written  by  Mr.  Buckthorn  I 
regret  to  find  expressions  bordering  on  profan 
ity,  and  various  slang  terms.  My  first  impulse 
was  to  strike  out  all  such,  but  I  have  decided 
to  print  the  letters  verbatim,  trusting  to  the 
good  sense  and  kind  consideration  of  the  reader 
to  pardon  the  rude  expressions  of  a  rough 
frontiersman,  whose  heart  was  evidently  capable 
of  tender  feeling.  Let  no  one  imagine  that 
Buckthorn's  love  for  his  "pardner"  was  not 
very  great  because  he  adds  a  postscript  to  this 
sad  epistle,  introducing  another  theme.  The 
true  soldier  looks  on  death  as  an  event  that 
may  come  to  himself  or  companions  at  any  hour, 
and  when  the  grim  messenger  arrives,  no  excess 
of  emotion  is  shown.  Who  shall  say  that  his 
love  is  often  not  as  great  as  ours  who  wring  our 
hands,  cry  aloud,  and  wear  on  our  sleeves  the 
outward  mark  of  grief?  E.  H.] 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  261 

BAD  MAN'S  GULCH,  CAMP  OF  THE  46th, 

COMPANY  B,  March  2,  1852. 
Miss 

I  takes  my  pen  in  hand  tu  say  that  me  pard, 
Mister  Forbes,  has  not  showed  up  for  nigh  two 
weeks.  You  see  the  Envelop  in  which  this  yer 
letter  is  put  is  direckted  by  him  tu  you.  He 
direckted  it  quite  some  time  ago  and  told  me 
if  any  time  he  didn't  ride  the  mewl  in  on  time\ 
tu  jest  wate  a  week  and  rite  and  tell  you  of  it. 
an  ax  were  i  shall  send  his  traps.  His  money 
wot  he  allus  left  in  his  chist  is  bout  two  hun 
dred  this  I  was  ter  send  you  fer  his  ole  mammy, 
I  low  the  Blackfeet  have  gobbled  him.  the 
loss  aint  on  youns  miss,  it  is  on  weuns  who 
node  him.  its  a  bad  blow  tu  this  ere  camp.  52 
uster  have  church  on  Sunday,  and  las  Sunday 
afternoon  just  as  the  Sun  was  hidin  behin 
Bald  Mounting  the  bugle  called  the  boys  for 
prayers,  an  52  gave  em  his  last  talk,  it  were 
a  better  sarmint  than  I  ever  heerd  from  any 
livin  gospel  sharp,  he  teched  us  up  on  our 
cussin  an  drinkin  and  gamblin  and  several  of 
the  boys  melted.  No  one  can  take  the  place 
of  52,  God  help  us,  i  would  hav  fit  fer  him  in 


262  FORBES  OF  HARVARD, 

a  minute  and  did  slap  a  fellers  gob  to-day  who 
said  that  he  had  gone  tu  hell,  axin  yer  pardon, 
were  all  Yanks  ort  ter  be.  i  am  a  Arkansas- 
sian  myself  but  52  was  white,  he  was  as  fine  a 
feller  as  ever  busted  a  broncho.  Were  shall  i 
send  his  Traps  ?  4  letters  here  from  you  for  52 
unopened,  as  they  are  big  and  fat  I  low  they  are 
werry  important,  so  I  sends  em  back  tu  you  to 
wunst. 

Hopin  yer  will  simpathize  with  us  I  am,  as 

ever, 

J.  BUCKTHORN, 

Private,  Company  B. 

P.  S.  We  called  him  52  cause  he  uster  yell 
Raw,  Raw,  Raw,  fifty  two  stanch  and  true, 
Raw,  Raw,  Raw.  It  is  a  sort  of  fool  injin 
lingo,  I  reckon  he  picked  some  where.  Miss 
yer  don't  know  it  but  the  planes  here  can  be 
planted  tu  gooseberries  and  a  big  fortin  made 
if  .any  of  yer  friends  want  to  put  in  a  few 
thousan  and  git  rich  my  time  is  out  in  four 
months  and  no  more  enlisten  for 

JACOB  BUCKTHORN. 

P.  S.  agin. 
Miss  i  wasted  an  envelop  by  bustin  this  let- 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  263 

ter  open  tu  say  that  the  Jinnie  what  52  rode 
has  jes  come  limpin  in  an  arrer  thro  her  ham. 
Yer  wood  hev  cried  ter  see  how  pitiful  she  look. 
i  send  you  in  this-letter  a  little  strip  of  washed 
out  red  ribbin  wot  was  on  the  bridle,  so  you 
will  no  i  am  not  lyin  to  yer  about  the  mewls 
commin  back.  As  i  told  yer  its  all  up  with 
me  pard.  The  captain  will  kick  wen  i  axes  him 
fer  a  nother  envelop  but  i  low  i  can  talk  sweet 
to  him. 

Still  Yours, 

JAKE. 


264  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER    XCIV. 

MISS    HONOR    HAROLD    TO    JACOB    BUCKTHORN. 

Miss  Harold,  although  doubtless  much  agitated 
on  the  receipt  of  Mr.  Buckthorn  s  letter,  ans 
wers  calmly.  Holds  out  hope  and  begs  Mr. 
Buckthorn  to  go  in  search  of  Forbes.  Shows 
her  thoughtfulness  for  others  in  trying  to 
keep  the  sad  news  to  herself. 

CONCORD,  MASS.,  March  18,  1852. 
MR.  JACOB  BUCKTHORN. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  Your  letter  of  the  I2th  inst. 
is  just  at  hand,  and  I  must  thank  you  for  your 
great  kindness  in  writing  me.  You  tell  me 
that  Mr.  Forbes  has  not  been  seen  for  two 
weeks.  I  understand  that  he  carried  mail 
on  horseback  from  your  camp  to  San  Jacinto. 
It  cannot  be  that  the  Indians  would  waylay 
and  kill  him.  Impossible!  He  had  a  most 
hearty  sympathy  for  the  Indians,  and,  as  I 
know,  was  interceding  through  Senator  Sum- 
ner  to  have  a  bill  passed  in  their  behalf,  reim 
bursing  them  for  loss  of  territory,  etc.  He 
must  have  simply  lost  his  way  — as  I  understand 
he  often  rode  after  dark,  or  his  horse  may  have 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  265 

thrown  him,  or  fallen,  and  then  ran  away,  and 
the  Indians  shot  the  arrow  into  the  horse,  the 
next  day,  trying  to  catch  it. 

I  beg  that  you  will  organize  an  expedition  at 
once  and  go  in  search  of  him.  Do  not  write 
anyone  else  here  of  the  matter.  When  you 
find  him,  if  he  is  sick  or  in  want  in  any  way, 
you  will  of  course  see  that  his  needs  are  sup 
plied,  for  his  many  friends  here  will  be  only 
too  glad  to  reimburse  you. 

Again  thanking  you,  and  hoping  for  a  hope 
ful  letter  from  you  soon,  I  subcribe  myself, 
Your  friend  most  sincerely, 

HONOR  HAROLD. 


266  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  XCV. 

JACOB  BUCKTHORN  TO  HONOR   HAROLD. 

Replies  in  a  characteristic  letter.  Is  moved  by 
Miss  Harold's  deep  interest  to  give  a  vivid 
picture  of  an  adventure  of  his  own  on  the 
same  route  where  Forbes  was  lost,  to  show 
the  danger  of  the  ride,  and  to  convince  that 
there  is  no  use  of  hoping  against  hope.  As 
Miss  Harold  asked  for  complete  details  of 
Mr.  Forbes1  going  away,  Buckthorn  obliges 
'  with  needless  minutta. 

BAD  MAN'S  GULCH, 

CAMP  OF  THE  46th  CAVALRY,  COMPANY  B, 

April  15,  1852. 

Miss  — 

I  got  your  letter  and  was  rite  glad  to  hear 
from  you.  i  sit  myself  down  and  takes  me  pen 
in  hand  to  let  you  no  that  i  am  well  and 
hopes  you  air  in  the  same  fix.  This  yer  feller 
52  ran  the  male  once  a  week  to  San  Jacinto, 
eighty  mile.  We  rides  by  trail  not  the.  waggen 
rode  as  you  no  the  blackfeet  is  worse  nor 
wildcats  about  now,  cause  the  whites  hav  driv 
all  the  buffler  south. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  267 

We  rides  eighty  mile  at  one  slap,  stoppin 
half  way,  fer  half  an  hour  at  a  cache  fer  grub 
and  ter  let  the  mewl  git  is  wind,  dont  fule  your 
self  by  thinkin  the  injuns  wouldent  swipe  52 
they  air  the  peskiest  lot  of  critters  yer  ever  saw 
and  not  many  of  em  i  low  ever  heard  tell  on 
Senatur  Sumner. 

they  nearly  done  fer  me  on  the  same  trail  last 
week,  it  was  bright  moonlight  although  cloudy 
wen  I  left  the  camp,  ere  i  wouldent  have  started. 
The  mewl  was  on  a  easy  lope  when  he  slowed 
down  mighty  suddent,  which  the  same  he  would 
ent  hev  done  if  there  wasent  danger  fer  he 
node  i  was  asleep.  A  mewl  is  the  noingest 
thing  on  airth  and  is  allus  awful  gentle  wen  ten 
miles  or  more  from  camp,  and  no  company  but 
the  man  a  straddle.  Out  shot  his  ears  an  I 
slipped  the  loop  off  the  horn  and  cocked  the 
rifle,  and  felt  to  see  if  my  revolvers  was  all 
right,  the  mewl  now  node  i  was  awake  and  he 
moved  on  easy  like  and  i  node  from  his  ears  it  was 
injuns.  When  zing,  zing  went  tu  arrers  over 
my  head  an  i  socked  the  spurs  to  that  ere  mewl 
and  away  we  went  through  the  sage  brush,  i  kep 
talkin  tu  the  jack  tu  keep  him  from  losin  his 


268  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

bed  and  tu  let  him  no  i  hadent  lost  mine  for 
the  mewl  can  allus  tell  wen  the  rider  is  losin 
his  sand. 

not  many  injuns  here  hav  horses  and  as  i 
past  thro  a  openin  in  the  bush  i  saw  there  were 
only  two  injuns  a  follerin.  i  node  i  could  git 
away  but  jest  out  of  divilment,  and  thinkin'  of 
52  who  was  me  pard  as  i  was  a  tell  in*  of  you,  i 
sez  sez  i  you  red  cusses  killed  me  pard,  well, 
watch  me  trump  yer  ace.  A  mile  ahed  there 
was  a  bunch  of  willers  in  a  holler  like,  i  had  it 
all  planned  and  wen  i  got  inter  the  willers  i 
slowed  up  and  pulled  off  that  ere  mewl  in  a 
holy  second,  i  pulled  me  belt  one  hole  tighter 
and  heard  the  injuns  come  poundin  through  the 
bush,  i  let  em  pass  and  i-held  the  rifle  back  and 
popped  em  with  first  one  iron  then  tother.  down 
went  one  Pinto  and  i  saw  i  dropped  the  horse 
and  not  the  injun,  but  the  other  red  devil  was 
done  for  sure  enuff.  his  horse  ran  strate  ahed 
and  i  dident  stop  to  visit  but  swung  onter  that 
jack  rabbit  and  on  i  went  arter  that  Pinto,  he 
was  a  good  un,  but  the  jack  kep  creepin  up 
and  creepin  up  alongside  of  him  an  i  jes  reached 
out  and  layed  hold  of  the  hay  Lariat  that  was 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  269 

round  his  neck  and  give  it  a  couple  of  twists 
aroun  the  horn  of  my  saddle  and  then  yelled 
Raw,  Raw,  52  stanch  and  true,  Raw,  Raw,  Raw 
H-A-R-V-A-R-D  but  wot  the  devil  it  means 
Miss  i  will  not  be  a  tellin  of  you  at  this  writin. 
i  slowed  down  then  to  an  easy  gallop  fer  the 
nex  ten  mile  an  lit  me  stump  of  a  clay  pipe  and 
trotted  inter  the  fort  jest  as  the  sun  was  peepin 
up  behind  the  mountings. 

"Were  did  yer  steal  the  Pinto"  axed  the 
boys  as  they  came  roun  to  help  me  uncinch  the 
jack  rabbit. 

"Never  mind"  sez  i  "the  owner  had  no  use 
fer  him  so  i  borrowed  him  fer  a  spell." 

About  organizin  of  the  expedition  Miss, 
praps  you  forgot  i  am  A  private,  altho  gettin 
good  pay  it  mostly  goes  to  me  old  daddy  who 
is  paralized,  and  to  Jimy  wots  my  brother  who 
has  a  sick  Wife  and  leven  kids,  and  the 
darndest  piece  of  swamp  which  the  same  he 
calls  a  farm,  and  all  it  seems  to  perduce  is 
ager.  i  could  suggest  the  expedishun  tu  the 
capting  but  would  probly  hev  me  bug  juice 
taken  away  fer  ten  days  fer  puttin  in  me  lip. 

You  axed  about  me  pards  goin  off.     Well  it 


270  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

wuz  jes  before  sunset  he  picked  out  the  mewl 
he  wanted,  they  was  bunched  in  the  corral 
behind  the  fort,  he  swung  the  lariat  kind  of 
gentle  like  four  times  over  his  head  and  dropped 
it  round  the  neck  of  the  nastiest  cuss  of  a  jinny 
there  was  in  the  herd.  The  kernel  bought  her 
in  a  bunch  com  in  thro  Mizzoury.  she  was  out 
of  a  Kentucky  runnin  mare  by  a  Spanish  jack. 
I  dont  want  to  speak  disrespectful  Miss  of  that 
jinny  fer  she  is  the  gamiest  animile  in  our 
bunch,  but  shes  a  bucker  from  way  back  all  us 
does  the  act  fer  about  fifteen  minutes  after  you 
straddle  her,  then  shes  all  rite.  52  saddled 
her  easy  like,  fer  she  stands  as  quiet  as  a  tabby 
cat  until  you  get  on.  He  cinched  her  up 
tighter  than  usual  an  acted  a  little  down  in  the 
mouth  like  he  had  all  day. 

"take  a  sniff  of  the  old  stuff"  sez  i.  "You 
no  i  never  drink  "  sez  he,  and  it  was  as  cross  a 
word  as  he  ever  spoke  to  me,  not  cross  ezackly 
but  grieved  like.  He  never  smoked  or  i  no  he 
wouldent  have  had  these  blew  spells  Miss, 
smokin  is  a  cure  fer  bad  feel  ins  as  yer  may  no, 
by  a  tryin  of  it  wen  yer  liver  aint  rite. 

he  tuk  a  bit  of  buckskin   outer  his  inside 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  271 

Pocket  an  in  it  wuz  wrapped  up  a  little  strip  of 
red  ribbon,  he  tide  this  ribbon  onter  the  bridle 
as  he  allus  does  and  two  of  the  boys  held  the 
jinny  that  stood  as  innocent  like  and  meek  as 
one  of  the  sisters  of  Charity  i  seed  in  St.  Louis. 
52  put  on  his  shaps,  then  his  Spurs  and  his  oil 
skin  jacket,  buckled  his  pops  on  the  outside, 
felt  to  see  his  knife  was  in  place,  and  the  bun 
dle  of  letters  was  all  right  aroun  his  neck,  then 
he  gave  a  pull  to  his  sombrero  and  a  hitch  to 
his  breeches,  as  he  put  his  left  hand  into  the 
check  strap  of  that  ere  mewl  his  right  hand 
held  the  bridle  rein  and  rifle  as  he  put  it  on 
the  horn  of  the  saddle,  he  put  his  left  foot  in 
the  stirrup  and  swung  over  inter  place  as  grace 
ful  as  a  feather,  that  dam  mewl  stood  as  quiet 
as  death  and  down  she  sank  as  if  she  was  goin 
to  lay  down,  down,  down,  52  smiled  (wot  a  han- 
sum  cuss  he  was  wen  he  smiled)  and  like  a 
flash  of  lightning  up  went  that  mewl  about  ten 
feet  in  the  air  and  struck  stiff  legged  a  hundred 
feet  away. 

52  gave  her  the  spurs  and  off  they  went  a 
boundin  Up  and  down  at  every  jump,  he  stood 
in  one  stirrup  and  reached  the  other  long  leg 


272  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

clear  up  to  her  ears  as  the  boys  yelled,  then 
he  Pasted  her  over  the  head  with  his  sombrero 
and  twisted  her  tail  which  stood  out  like  a  paint 
brush,  and  down  they  went  across  the  crick, 
just  as  the  sunset  gun  Barked  we  lost  sight  of 
em  among  the  cottonwood,  and  heard  him  yell 
Raw,  Raw,  52  Stanch  and  true  H-A-R- 
V-A-RD,  fer  that's  the  way  he  allus  said  Good 
bye.  That's  all  there  is  about  52,  Miss,  and  i 
no  you  feel  sorry  fer  us 

So  long 

J.  BUCKTHORN. 

P.  S.  I  begun  this  letter  3  days  ago  and 
hev  put  in  most  my  time  since  on  it  wen  I 
wasent  on  guard.  Wot  about  the  gooseberries  ? 
hev  yer  got  any  one  worked  up  on  it  yet  ? 

JAKE. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  273 

NUMBER  XCVI. 

J.    R.    JONES,    SECRETARY    OF    GEN.    JOHN    C.    FRE 
MONT,    TO    REV.    HEZEKIAH    PENNAWORTH. 

More  about  the  disappearance  of  Private  Forbes. 
Captain  Snyders  version  of  the  affair  evi 
dently  accepted.  An  investigation  of  Forbes' 
record  is  begun  in  anticipation  of  his  arrest. 

FORT  DENVER,  KANSAS  TER., 

March    10,  1852. 

REV.   H.   PENNAWORTH. 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND  :  It  is  several  years  since 
I  wrote  you  last,  but  I  will  not  soon  forget  the 
days  of  old  when  we  attended  school  on  the 
hill  in  Roxbury.  I  wish  now  that  I  had  fol 
lowed  your  example  and  gone  to  Harvard 
instead  of  hiding  myself  in  this  barren 
wilderness. 

My  folks  send  the  Weekly  Herald  occasion 
ally,  and  I  was  much  pleased,  some  time  ago, 
to  read  your  name  in  the  list  of  graduates  at 
the  Divinity  School,  so  I  do  the  proper  thing 
and  address  you  as  Rev. 

What  prompts  me  to  write  you  at  this  time 


274  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

is  on  account  of  a  deserter  who  has  just  been 
reported  for  arrest.  He  has  taken  with  him 
$788  of  government  money.  They  say  he 
is  from  Harvard,  and  the  General,  knowing  I 
am  from  near  there,  told  me  to  write  for  his 
record.  Name  —  Arthur  Ripley  Forbes,  Class 
of  '52.  I  think  it's  only  a  guess  any  way  that 
the  fellow  ever  was  at  Harvard  ;  and  this  name 
may  be  assumed ;  but  I  act  on  order  from  the 
General.  You  can  easily  look  over  the  records, 
and,  if  you  can  locate  the  man,  tell  me  briefly 
what  you  can  about  him.  I  write  to  you  about 
the  matter,  instead  of  the  mighty  moguls  of 
the  'Varsity,  as  I  know  you  will  do  the  "biz," 
and  I  also  wanted  to  let  you  know  I  was  on 
earth. 

Yours  truly, 

J.  R.  JONES, 
Sec.  Gen.  John  C.  Fremont. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  275 

NUMBER  XCVII. 

REV.   H.  PENNAWORTH  TO  CAPT.  J.   R.  JONES, 
SEC'Y. 

Mr.  H.  Pennaworth  replies,  giving  an  account 
of  Forbes  character.  Relates  adventures  that 
do  not  flatter,  and  as  proof  encloses  copy  of 
complaint  presented  to  the  Facility.  Speaks 
of  his  own  trials,  and  shows  how  the  life 
of  a  young  clergyman  is  not  always  a  flowery 
bed  of  ease.  . 

CAMBRIDGE,  March  29. 
MY  DEAR  BROTHER  :  — 

I  am  much  gratified  to  think  you  remember 
me,  and  will  gladly  serve  you  in  any  way  possi 
ble,  as  it  is  my  constant  prayer  that  I  may  ever 
exercise  a  true  spirit  of  helpfulness. 

I  know  the  man  Forbes,  well.  He  in 
tended  to  follow  law,  I  believe.  He  left 
here  something  like  two  years  ago,  and  sent 
back  an  elderly  female  to  excite  sympathy  in  his 
behalf  among  the  students.  She  succeeded  so 
well  that  Forbes  and  this  woman  must  have 
divided  upwards  of  $400  between  them.  Since 


276  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

then  he  has  taken  good  care  not  to  come 
inside  the  College  yard. 

He  was  a  great  favorite  with  most  of  the 
boys,  because  he  was  at  the  front  in  all 
athletics  and  turbulent  sports.  Was  in  sev 
eral  riots  against  citizens  of  the  town,  and 
broke  probably  a  hundred  panes  of  glass  with 
snowballs  in  the  two  years  he  was  here. 
Once  he  was  up  before  the  faculty  for  break 
ing  in  the  front  door  of  a  shoe  store,  and 
attacking  the  proprietor,  who  had  locked  up  a 
student  in  his  kitchen  until  a  policeman  could 
be  procured  to  arrest  the  said  student,  who 
was  courting  the  honest  shoemaker's  daughter. 
The  said  student  escaped  before  a  police 
man  could  be  procured,  and  a  mob  was 
formed,  with  Forbes  as  leader,  and  they  attacked 
the  shoemaker.  The  original  complaint  is  on 
file  at  the  Secretary's  office,  and  I  enclose  ver 
batim  copy. 

He  was  a  great  hand  to  go  on  long  tramps 
through  the  country.  On  one  such  expedition 
he  came  to  a  school-house  at  a  cross-roads. 

Entering,  he  introduced  himself  to  the  school 
mistress  (who,  by  the  way,  was  exceeding 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  277 

comely),  as  the  State  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction. 

Of  course  the  lady  was  somewhat  agitated 
on  receiving  a  visit  from  such  a  high  official ; 
but  Forbes  put  her  at  ease  by  explaining  that 
he  happened  to  be  in  the  neighborhood  on  bus 
iness,  and,  having  a  few  moments  to  spare, 
thought  he  would  drop  in  and  greet  her  in  an 
informal  way,  making  a  short  address  to  the 
scholars,  which  he  accordingly  did  in  a  grace 
ful  manner.  After  the  address,  he  said  probably 
the  school  had  never  been  visited  before  by  the 
State  Superindent,  and  never  would  be  again  ; 
and  under  the  circumstances,  in  honor  of  the 
event,  he  suggested  that  the  teacher  give  the 
scholars  a  half-holiday.  This  was  accordingly 
done,  much  to  the  delight  of  the  youngsters. 

Forbes  then  gave  the  young  lady  some  good 
advice  about  her  work  and  went  on  his  way. 

It  is  very  plain  that  a  man  guilty  of  such 
imposition  and  deception  must  be  a  dangerous 
character  in  any  community. 

Forbes  once  put  fourteen  frogs  in  my  desk, 
and  was  much  given  to  crowding  people  off 
the  sidewalk  into  the  gutters,  and  also  of 


278  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

pushing  and  crowding  when  going  in  and  out  of 
Chapel  —  especially  coming  out. 

He  had  no  respect  for  religion,  and  therefore 
I  am  not  surprised  that  he  has  thus  come  to  a 
bad  end.  Yet  I  do  not  want  to  say  anything 
against  him,  as  my  desire  is  to  speak  only  good 
of  all,  and  I  trust  that,  if  he  gets  out  of  this 
difficulty,  he  will  reform  and  conduct  himself 
as  becomes  a  Christian  gentleman  (if  I  may 
be  allowed  the  expression). 

I  am  tutoring  here,  and  preaching  every 
Lord's  day,  candidating.  I  am  in  hopes  I  will 
not  receive  any  regular  call  yet.  Of  course,  if 
a  people  needed  me  I  would  go  to  minister  to 
them ;  but  the  preparing  of  two  sermons  a 
week  I  do  not  feel  equal  to.  I  think  of  taking 
to  myself  a  wife  as  soon  as  a  suitable  person 
can  be  found ;  but  I  regret  to  observe  that  the 
young  women  of  our  day  are  much  given  to 
frivolky,  and  lacking  in  the  qualities  which  a 
pastor's  wife  should  possess. 

I  have  seven  excellent  sermons,  which  I  use 
as  occasion  demands.  In  England,  one  can 
purchase  the  entire  stock  of  a  retiring  clergy 
man,  and  it  is  considered  all  right.  But  here 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  279 

the  masses  are  not  educated  to  a  point  where 
they  would  accept  sermons  at  second-hand,  if 
they  knew  it,  without  scoffing. 

My  health  is  quite  good,  except  for  a  slight 
attack  of  bronchitis.     I  am,  dear  brother, 
Your  friend  in  Truth, 

H.  PENNAWORTH. 


NUMBER  XCVIII. 

COPY   OF   COMPLAINT   AGAINST   ARTHUR   R. 
FORBES. 

[I  find  this  document  still  on  file  among  the 
records  at  Harvard,  where  any  one  curious  in 
the  matter  may  see  it.  The  man  Williams, 
whose  name  is  appended  (a  student  in  the  Law 
School),  was  evidently  the  author  of  the  com 
plaint.  The  decision  of  the  Faculty  in  the 
matter  I  have  been  unable  to  find.  E.  H.] 

TO  THE  HONORABLE  THE  FELLOWS  AND  FAC 
ULTY  OF  HARVARD  UNIVERSITY. 

Nicholas  Laste,  being  duly  sworn,  deposeth 
as  follows  —  to  wit :  On  the  I  ith  day  of  Novem 
ber  in  the  year  of  Our  Lord  eighteen  hundred 
and  fifty  and  the  year  of  the  Independence  of 


280  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

the  United  States  the  seventy-sixth,  at  eleven 
o'clock  at  night  or  thereabouts,  the  front  door 
of  deponent's  domicile  was  broken  open  by  one 
Arthur  R.  Forbes,  to  deponent  known,  and  by 
other  parties  to  deponent  unknown,  and  forcibly 
and  against  deponent's  desire  the  said  parties 
blacked  deponent's  face  with  a  shoe  brush,  and 
used  to  deponent  and  lawful  wife  much 
unseemly  language,  and  threw  over  deponent 
the  following,  to  wit :  One  bucket  of  dirty  water. 
One  bucket  of  kitchen  slop.  On  deponent's 
remonstrating  with  said  Forbes,  and  asking  him 
to  desist  in  his  nefarious  work,  said  Forbes 
replied,  using  the  following  words,  to  wit : 
"  Shut  up,  you  old  wax-end,  or  I  will  blow  you 
to  Gehenna!"  And  deponent  verily  believes 
he  would  have  done  so,  had  deponent  not 
precipitately  fled. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted,  and 
deponent  prays  that  Your  Honorable  Body  will 
see  that  proper  punishment  is  meted  out  to 
said  defendant. 

(Signed)     NICHOLAS  LASTE. 

This  is  to  certify  that  I  read  over  above  com 
plaint  to  deponent,  who  makes  solemn  oath  on 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  281 

the  Holy  Evangely  that  all  the  statements 
therein  made  are  true,  except  such  statements 
as  are  made  on  hearsay  and  belief,  and  these 
he  believes  to  be  true. 

JAMES  WILLIAMS, 

Commissioner  of  Deeds  for  and  in  the  Common 
wealth  of  Massachusetts. 
Cambridge,  Nov.  21,  1850. 


NUMBER  XCIX. 

REV.   H.   PENNAWORTH  TO  JEREMIAH  PEEPSON. 

The  news  of  Forbes  disgrace  reaches  Concord  via 
Pennaworth,  who  feels  it  a  duty  to  inform 
Justice  Peepson. 

CAMBRIDGE,  MASS.,  April  14,  1852. 
MY  DEAR  BROTHER  :  — 

Since  I  last  had  the  pleasure  of  holding 
Divine  services  in  your  beautiful  town,  I  have 
ministered  to  various  other  flocks.  But  I 
always  think  of  your  village  with  feelings  of 
peculiar  gratification,  knowing  that  I  have  been 
instrumental  to  a  certain  degree  in  neutralizing 


282  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

the  pernicious  effect  of  the  invidious  forms  of 
infidelity  that  have  sprung  up  in  your  commu 
nity —  if  I  may  be  allowed  the  expression. 

My  health  is  quite  good,  save  for  a  slight 
attack  of  bronchitis,  which  has  incapacitated 
me  for  preaching  for  three  weeks. 

I  am  grieved  to  hear  that  a  certain  townsman 
of  yours,  one  Forbes,  has  turned  out  so  badly 
in  spite  of  all  the  good  influences  thrown  around 
him.  He  has  deserted  from  his  post  of  duty, 
taking  with  him  $988.50  belonging  to  the 
Government,  and  as  you  are  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  it  may  interest  you  to  know  that  a  large 
reward  is  offered  for  his  capture.  He  may 
come  back  to  Concord  in  disguise,  and  I  have 
felt  it  my  duty  to  give  you  the  plain  facts,  that 
you  might  see  that  the  ends  of  justice  are  not 
defeated. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  that  your  entire  church 
debt  has  been  paid  off,  and  that  the  parish  is 
enjoying  such  a  high  state  of  spirituality. 

My  regards  to  your  good  wife,  and  family. 
Yours  most  sincerely, 

H.  PENNAWORTH. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD,  283 

NUMBER  C. 

JACOB    BUCKTHORN  TO    GEN.  JOHN  C.   FREMONT. 

Mr.  Buckthorn  comes  to  the  rescue  of  his  old 
partner  s  good  name.  Another  version  of 
the  difficulty. 

FORT  SAN  JACINTO,  March  10,   1852. 

DEAR  GINERAL 

In  an  ofishal  way  i  hev  no  bizness  tu  write 
tu  you  &  praps  i  haint  nohow,  but  i  writes  as 
soldier  to  soldier. 

on  that  ere  first  trip  across  the  mountings 
you  an  me  fit  the  injuns  together  an  i  slep  in 
yer  tent  ready  to  jump  in  a  holy  second  an 
carry  yer  orders,  we  who  have  suffered  an 
enjyd  together  do  not  hev  to  allus  stand  on 
army  regulations,  this  is  wy  i  writes  tu  you 
about  me  pard  whose  name  was  52,  but  they 
used  tu  call  him  Forbes  fer  short,  he  carried 
the  male  on  the  nite  run  to  Bad  Mans  Gulch, 
an  a  finer  man,  Gineral,  never  clapped  spurs  tu 
a  bronc.  he  was  as  brave  a  man  as  you  Gin 
eral,  and  i  cant  put  it  no  stronger,  an  his  heart 
was  lovin  as  a  babbys. 


284  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

The  Blackfeet  layed  fer  him  one  nite  an  his 
mewl  came  inter  the  fort  with  an  arrer  thro 
her  ham.  The  Capting  lowed  he  had  run  away 
cause  mong  his  letters  was  a  package  of  money, 
but  52  was  no  thief  he  wasent,  an  i'll  let  day 
light  thro  any  galoot  except  hes  a  commissioned 
officer,  what  says  he  was.  The  Cap  was  down 
on  him,  he  was,  cause  he  wouldent  give  a  taste 
of  the  quirt  tu  a  feller  who  had  forgot  tu  salute, 
you  Never  ordered  a  soldier  whipped,  you  never 
had  a  feller  tied  up  by  the  thumbs.  &  then  the 
Cap  ordered  Three  soldiers  tu  give  me  pard 
thirty  lashes  on  the  bare  Hide  fer  refusin  of 
tu  lash  another  brave  soldier  wen  all  of  us  had 
looked  death  in  the  i  together,  but  the  Cap  who 
i  reckon  isent  much  better  nor  a  tenderfoot. 
52  took  off  his  coat  and  shirt  fer  the  lash  but 
not  a  man  cum  forward  &  the  fellers  what  was 
ordered  tu  do  the  job  stood  like  stumps.  The 
Cap  turned  red,  then  pale  an  ordered  all  Hands 
out  fer  drill. 

Now  the  Cap  sez  that  52  has  rund  off  tu 
escape  court  martial  &  stole  the  money  at  the 
same  time,  its  a  lie,  gineral,  the  injuns  have 
got  him  me  pard  is  dead,  his  scalp  is  danglin 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  285 

from  some  red  devil's  belt,  the  kyutes  have 
feasted  on  his  flesh,  &  his  bones  air  now 
bleachin  down  some  canyon.  You  and  me  is 
here  yet,  but  our  bones  may  bleach  tu,  and  our 
scalps  may  dangle,  but  by  God,  gineral,  we 
wont  post  a  brave  man  fer  a  deserter,  will  we 
Gineral  ? 

JACOB  BUCKTHORN, 

Private. 


NUMBER   CI. 

MRS.    FORBES    TO    DR.    JOHN    HOLWORTHY. 

The  good,  simple  mother,  bowed  with  grief, 
writes  to  Dr.  Holworthy,  telling  of  the  trouble 
that  has  come  iipon  Jier  in  her  old  age.  Sorrow 
always  has  its  alloy.  In  the  darkest  moments 
of  the  soul,  past  joys,  and  hope  for  the  future, 
sweeten  the  bitterness  of  the  present. 

CONCORD,  MASS.,  April  15,  1852. 

DEAR  JOHN  :  — 

I  am  in  deep  trouble.     Oh,   the  shame  of 


286  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

having  children  grow  up  to  disgrace  their 
parents !  I  always  said  it  would  come  to  this, 
the  reading  of  those  infidel  books. 

They  say  my  son  has  deserted  from  the 
army  ;  but,  John,  I  am  sure  that  if  a  soldier 
does  not  want  to  work  any  longer,  he  has  a 
perfect  right  to  quit,  after  giving  notice. 
Don't  you  think  so,  John  ?  But  my  Arthur 
would  never  steal.  No !  Someone  else  took 
the  money. 

Squire  Peepson  said  he  heard  Arthur  was 
hiding  in  my  house.  He  came  here  with 
Jones  the  constable.  He  had  a  long  letter  which 
he  read  to  me  :  he  said  it  was  a  search  warrant. 
They  looked  all  through  the  house  —  in  the 
garret  and  cellar,  and  under  all  the  beds,  and 
then  in  the  hen-house. 

Of  course  it  is  very  kind  in  them  to  try  and 
find  my  son  for  me.  Mr.  Jones  is  a  very  nice 
man  ;  he  brings  up  his  children  in  God-fearing 
manner.  He  is  a  good  provider.  Everyone  is 
very  kind  to  me  in  my  trouble.  Rev.  Mr.  Pen- 
naworth  came  first,  to  tell  us  about  it.  He 
was  so  kind  and  good,  and  broke  the  news  so 
gently.  Mr.  Pennaworth  said,  now  that  Arthur 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  287 

was  out  of  work,  he  would  likely  come  right 
back  here,  and  we  must  tell  Mr.  Jones  at  once, 
so  they  could  clear  him  of  the  charge  of  taking 
the  money.  After  all,  John,  I  am  glad  Arthur 
will  be  back  to  see  us ;  he  never  spoke  a  cross 
word  to  me.  When  I  used  to  scold  a  little  — 
as  you  know  any  woman  will,  when  there  is  so 
much  to  do  —  he  used  to  come  and  kiss  me  on 
the  ear  and  say  he  was  glad  I  wasn't  twins,  for 
one  like  me  was  all  he  could  manage ;  and  then 
I  would  hit  him  with  the  broom,  and  we  would 
laugh  and  forget  our  troubles. 

If  he  comes  to  Cambridge  first,  you  must 
both  come  up  here  at  once.  He  did  not  take 
the  money  did  he,  John  ? 

He  used  to  kiss  me  on  the  ear  and  call  me 
his  little  old  sweetheart.  He  did  not  take  the 
money,  John,  did  he  ?  You  know  he  did  not. 
He  will  soon  be  back,  and  he  is  now  so  strong 
and  well.  He  will  explain  it  all  when  he 
comes. 

If  he  did  not  want  to  be  a  soldier  —  why, 
what  difference  was  it  ?  He  will  be  here  on 
Sunday;  don't  you  think  so,  John  ?  He  always 
came  on  Saturdays,  you  know.  He  used 


288  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

to   kiss    me   on    the  ear,  and  call   me    whitey 
sweetheart. 

Yours  truly, 

P.  FORBES. 


NUMBER  CII. 

HONOR  HAROLD  TO  GEN.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

A  plea  in  behalf  of  Forbes    good  name.      Let 
the  dead  rest  from  their  labors  in  peace. 

CONCORD,  MASS.,  May  i,  1852. 
GEN.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

DEAR  SIR:  I  write  you  in  reference  to 
Arthur  Ripley  Forbes,  Courier,  who  disap 
peared  from  his  post  of  duty  between  Fort  San 
Jacinto  and  Bad  Man's  Gulch,  on  night  of  Feb. 

2  I  St. 

I  understand  that  the  animal  which  he  rode 
came  into  the  fort  with  an  arrow  shot  through 
its  leg,  which  is  proof  that  Forbes  was  attacked 
by  the  Indians  and  has  not  deserted. 

The  suggestion  by  Captain  Snyder,  that 
Forbes  himself  would  turn  the  animal  loose 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  289 

and  shoot  it  with  the  arrow,  to  divert  suspicion, 
is  too  far-fetched  to  take  the  time  of  sensible 
people.  Only  an  evil-minded  person  would 
ever  make  such  a  libelous  charge ;  for  one's 
opinion  of  others  is  generally  the  reflex  of  his 
own  heart. 

Forbes  bears  an  excellent  reputation  here 
among  all  good  people.  At  Harvard  College 
he  was  a  general  favorite  among  both  professors 
and  students,  and  the  fact  that  he  had  a  noble 
and  generous  spirit  cannot  be  disproved. 

I  beg  that  you  will  investigate  the  charge  of 
"mutiny"  brought  by  Captain  Snyder;  and, 
knowing  nothing  of  the  circumstances,  but 
knowing  Mr.  Forbes,  I  venture  the  assertion 
that  Forbes'  rebellion  was  in  behalf  of  some 
unfortunate  individual.  I  am  told  that  your 
department  has  offered  a  reward  for  the  capture 
of  Private  Forbes ;  by  so  doing,  you  have  cast 
a  cloud  over  the  fair  name  of  a  brave  man. 

I  most  earnestly  pray  that  you  will  have  the 
record  read,  "Killed  in  action."  Withdraw 
the  offer  of  reward  for  capture,  and  thus 
partially  undo  the  wrong  that  has  been  done 
a  soldier  as  brave  and  honorable  as  a  Sobieski. 


290  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Do  not  allow  his  name  to  be  bandied 
upon  the  tongue  of  rumor;  for,  in  addition 
to  the  wrong  done  to  the  dead,  this  shameful 
libel -has  deeply  pained  those  to  whom  he  stood 
as  lover,  son  and  friend. 

Very  respectfully, 

H.  HAROLD. 


NUMBER  CIII. 

GEN.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT  TO  HONOR  HAROLD. 

General   Fremont    defends    Ids  position    in    a 
plausible  and  respectful  manner. 

FORT  ALAMO,  CAL.,  June  10,  1852. 
H.  HAROLD,  CONCORD,  MASS. 

SIR:  Your  letter  of  May  ist  received.  The 
offer  of  a  reward  for  the  capture  of  one  Forbes 
was  based  on  the  fact  that  his  disappearance 
occurred  immediately  after  his  having  —  First: 
caused  a  mutiny,  and  while  an  order  was  out 
for  troops  to  quell  the  disturbance  he  had 
created.  Second  :  He  had  with  him  at  the  time 
a  large  amount  of  money  belonging  to  the 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  291 

government.  Third  :  The  animal  he  rode  did 
not  come  into  the  fort  for  several  days  after 
his  disappearance,  thus  showing  that  it  had 
evidently  been  ridden  many  miles  from  the 
route  before  being  turned  loose. 

A  full  investigation  of  the  facts  will  be 
made  at  once,  and  if  a  wrong  has  been  done  to 
the  name  of  Forbes,  due  reparation  will  follow. 
No  doubt  this  man  was  a  fairly  good  soldier,  and 
I  do  not  question  the  excellence  of  his  charac 
ter  at  home,  but  men  who  carry  themselves  up 
rightly  in  the  East,  when  surrounded  by  the 
safeguards  of  law  and  custom,  often  reveal  a 
different  side  of  their  natures  here,  where  law 
is  almost  unknown.  The  failure  to  obey  a 
superior  officer  is  a  charge  not  easily  over 
looked.  The  first  duty  of  a  soldier  is  to  obey ; 
and  should  I  look  lightly  on  such  an  offense,  I 
would  consider  myself  derelict  to  duty.  I  am 
Your  most  obedient  servant, 

J.  C.  FREMONT. 


292  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  CIV. 

HONOR  HAROLD  TO  DR.  HOLWORTHY. 

Dr.  Holworthy  has  evidently  been  true  to  his 
trust  and  sent  the  dividend  to  Miss  Meredith. 
Ignorant  of  where  the  money  came  from,  Miss 
Harold  writes  her  acknowledgments  in  a 
well-worded  note. 

CONCORD,  June  8,    1852. 

DEAR  DOCTOR  :  — 

I  write  you  on  request  of  Miss  Meredith,  to 
thank  you  for  the  $180,  which  you  so  kindly 
sent. 

I  am  sure  that  if  it  was  not  for  your  excel 
lent  foresight  the  good  woman  would  now  be 
without  income.  Of  course  she  would  not 
suffer  in  any  event,  as  I  am  doing  fairly  well 
tutoring,  and  there  are  many  others  in  Con 
cord  who  would  deem  it  a  privilege  to  divide 
their  portion  with  Miss  Meredith  who  has  her 
self  done  so  much  for  others.  But  the  idea  that 
she  is  not  dependent  on  charity,  is  almost 
necessary  to  the  life  of  one  so  full  of  the  spirit 
of  self-reliance. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  293 

Again  thanking  you  for  Miss  Meredith,  and 
on  my  own  account  for  all  of  your  many  gener 
ous  acts,  I  am 

Your  friend, 

H.  HAROLD. 


NUMBER  CV. 

MISS  HAROLD  TO  DR.  HOLWORTHY. 

Miss  Meredith  seriously  ill.  A  request  that 
the  doctor  will  bring  the  certificates  for  Old 
Colony  R.  R.  stock  to  their  owner  or  dispose 
of  them  for  cash  and  turn  in  the  proceeds. 

CONCORD,  Aug.  10,  1852. 

DR.  HOLWORTHY. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  am  obliged  to  inform  you 
that  Miss  Meredith  has  had  another  severe 
attack  of  inflammatory  rheumatism,  and  Dr.  Pea- 
body  thinks  her  recovery  doubtful. 

The  good  woman's  mind  is  more  alert  and 
bright  than  I  ever  saw  it.  The  effect  of  physi 
cal  pain,  as  I  have  heard  you  say,  is  often  to 
arouse  the  intellect.  Miss  Meredith  knows  the 


294  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

end  may  be  near,  and  she  requests  me  to  have 
you  bring  the  certificates  for  her  Old  Colony 
Railroad  stock.  Or  if  you  can  sell  for  1.07  cash, 
do  so.  She  desires  me  to  deposit  the  money  in 
the  bank  here,  as  she  proposes  to  dispose  of  the 
estate  herself,  rather  than  make  a  will,  as  she 
has  a  superstitious  dread  of  lawyers  and  courts, 
and  fears  her  wishes  will  not  be  properly 
respected. 

I  see  by  to-day's  paper,  that  Old  Colony 
stock  is  quoted  at  $1.05,  which  is  proof  of  your 
wisdom  in  buying  at  par.  I  do  not  know  what 
will  be  the  nature  of  Miss  Meredith's  bequests, 
but  I  suppose  the  funds  will  go  to  certain  edu 
cational  institutions  in  Boston  in  which  she  is 
interested. 

Kindly  act  promptly  about  converting  the 
stock  into  cash,  as  Miss  Meredith  is  urgent  in 
this  matter. 

Very  respectfully, 

HONOR  HAROLD. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  295 

NUMBER  CVI. 

DR.   HOLWORTHY  TO  MISS  HONOR  HAROLD. 

On  receiving  Miss  Harold 's  letter  the  doctor  is 
taken  suddenly  ill.  Informs  his  correspond 
ent  that  dissolution  is  near  at  hand. 

CAMBRIDGEPORT,  Aug.  20,  1852. 

DEAR  Miss  HAROLD  :  — 

Your  letter  received.  I  would  have  fol 
lowed  your  wishes,  but  I  am  sick  beyond  recov 
ery,  and  now  lie  on  my  death-bed.  It  is  acute 
pericarditis,  and  the  poor  wretch  who  writes 
you  this,  may  stand  before  his  Maker  and 
hear  the  words,  "Depart  ye  accursed,"  etc., 
before  you  read  these  lines.  Pray  for  me. 
Yours  truly, 

J.  HOLWORTHY,  M.  D. 


296  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER    CVII. 

MISS  HAROLD  TO  DR.   HOLWORTHY. 

Miss  Harold  evidently  not  greatly  alarmed  at 
the  doctor  s  condition.  Expresses  sympathy, 
and  asks  permission  to  call  on  him. 

CONCORD,  Aug.  21,  1852. 

MY  DEAR  DOCTOR  :  — 

I  much  regret  to  hear  of  your  serious  illness, 
but  trust  it  is  only  temporary.  If  I  can  do  any 
thing  to  alleviate  your  suffering,  please  com 
mand  me. 

Miss  Meredith  is  quite  anxious  about  selling 
the  stock  at  the  present  quotation  of  1.08  1-2. 
And  when  I  call,  you  can  give  me  the  certifi 
cates,  and  I  can  transact  the  business.  At 
what  hour  to-morrow  may  I  see  you  ? 

I  am  glad  to  observe  that  your  handwriting 
does  not  show  great  weakness,  so  I  trust  you 
are  convalescent  ere  this. 

Sincerely  yours, 

HONOR  HAROLD. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  297 

NUMBER   CVIII. 

DR.    HOLWORTHY    TO    MISS    HAROLD. 

The  doctor  slightly  better.  Makes  a  confession 
that  he  never  sold  the  Livingston  stock.  "  The 
man  soured  on  him"  Sends  the  balance  of 
$  1 80  given  him  by  Forbes  to  pay  dividends. 

CAMBRIDGEPORT,  Aug.  23. 

MY  DEAR  Miss  HAROLD:  — 

The  attack  was  very  severe,  and  I  thought 
the  end  was  near.  Fortunately  I  was  able  to 
bring  the  proper  remedies  to  bear  and  am  to 
day  still  in  the  land  of  the  living.  But  I  am 
only  a  wreck,  and  from  now  on  I  walk  the 
earth,  if  life  lingers,  only  a  bruised  reed. 

About  the  certificates,  Miss  Harold  —  God 
help  me  !  At  the  last  moment,  I  was  unable  to 
exchange  the  Livingston  for  Q.  C.  I  had  it  all 
fixed,  but  the  man  soured  on  me. 

I  never  had  the  heart  to  tell  you ;  but  I  cannot 
die  with  a  lie  on  my  lips,  so  I  tell  you  the  truth, 
and  send  the  Livingston  certificates  with  this. 

I  would  be  most  happy  to  have  you  call,  but 
the  sight  of  my  haggard  face  would  unnerve 


298  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

you.  I  am  so  emaciated,  and  my  eyes  are  so 
glassy,  I  scare  horses  on  the  street.  Pray  for 
me. 

Disconsolately, 

J.  HOLWORTHY,  M.  D. 

P.  S.  I  send  draft  for  $180  to  pay  div.  for 
Nov.  on  Liv.  certifs.  My  opinion  is  that  it's 
better  stock  now  than  O.  C.,  if  one  has  nerve 
to  hold  it. 


NUMBER  CIX. 

MISS    HAROLD    TO    DR.    HOLWORTHY. 

Miss  Harold' s  generous  nature  pardons  the  doc 
tors  weakness.  She  thanks  him  for  his  dis 
interested  kindness.  A  surprise.  Miss  Mere 
dith  divides  the  bulk  of  her  property  between 
Miss  Honor  and  Dr.  Hohvorthy. 

CONCORD,  Aug.  24,  1852. 

MY  DEAR  DOCTOR:  — 

The  Livingston  Mill  certificates  received, 
and  also  the  money  to  pay  the  November 
interest. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  299 

Miss  Meredith  begs  to  thank  you  most  cord 
ially  for  all  of  the  tender  consideration  you 
have  shown  in  this  matter. 

Of  course  you  tried  to  sell  the  stock  and 
invest  the  money  in  a  safer  way,  and  that  you 
failed  to  do  so  was  not  your  fault.  You  have 
advanced  the  dividends  out  of  your  purse  to  a 
lone  woman,  and  I  cannot  find  words  to  express 
my  high  regard  for  the  disinterested  sympathy 
which  you  have  shown. 

Now  here  is  something  which  may  interest 
you.  Miss  Meredith's  desire  is  to  divide 
this  stock  between  you  and  me,  as  she  said 
now  that  Arthur  has  gone  we  are  her  best 
friends.  She  thinks  she  will  not  recover  and  so 
has  made  the  division  now  ;  but  she  has  been  un 
fair  in  the  matter,  giving  $4000  to  me  and  only 
$2000  to  you.  She  wanted  to  convert  the 
stock  into  cash ;  but  I  showed  her  your  letter, 
where  you  said  you  considered  the  mill  stock 
valuable  property  to  those  who  would  hold  it  for 
a  year  or  two.  So  she  will  have  the  certificate 
for  $2000  made  out  in  your  name,  and  mail 
it  to  you  soon. 

Miss  Meredith  has  at  last  consented  to  let 


800  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

us  move  her  over  to  Mrs.  Forbes'.  I  have 
rented  the  cottage  ;  so  here  we  are,  to  use  the 
language  of  Aunt  Marie,"  three  fine  old  ladies." 
And,  really,  we  are  quite  merry  at  times. 

We  are  all  very  sorry  to  hear  of  your  physi 
cal  condition ;  but  you  are  a  young   man,   Dr. 
Holworthy,  and  surely  your  health  will  return. 
Sincerely  yours, 

H.  HAROLD. 


NUMBER    CX. 

DR.   HOLWORTHY  TO  HONOR  HAROLD. 

Dr.  Holworthy  much  better.  Shows  Jiis  generos 
ity  by  wanting  Miss  Harold  to  have  all  the 
Livingston  stock.  Endeavors  to  console  and 
proposes  a  buggy  ride. 

CAMBRIDGEPORT,  Aug.  25,  1852. 

MY  D^AR  Miss  HAROLD  :  — 

Whether  in  answer  to  your  prayers,  or  to  the 
operation  of  the  medicine  which  I  have  been 
taking,  I  do  not  know,  but  my  condition  has 
much  improved.  Pulse  a  trifle  fast,  but  tem 
perature  nearly  normal  and  appetile  fait ;  so  it 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  301 

looks  as  if  I  were  almost  convalescent,  and  once 
more  on  the  highway  to  recovery. 

That  Aunt  Marie  has  given  me  one-third  of 
the  Liv.  stock,  quite  upsets  me  in  my  weak 
state.  I  have  done  nothing  to  deserve  it. 
Please  have  her  reconsider  and  give  it  all  to  you, 
as  I  do  not  need  it.  I  feel  that  I  will  soon  be 
well,  and  my  practice  has  increased  every  month 
for  a  year. 

It  is  all  up  with  Arthur!  A  fine  fellow'he  was; 
but  why  grieve  over  him  ?  We  must  brace  up, 
and  remember  that  all  flesh  is  mortal.  We  are 
here  to  make  the  best  of  life,  and  our  duty  is  to 
live  above  all  that  distresses  or  troubles.  Let 
the  dead  rest.  I  am  a  transcendentalist,  I  am. 

You  spoke  in  a  former  letter  of  coming  down 
to  see  me.  I  would  be  much  pleased  to  have  you 
do  so.  Come  Sunday,  on  the  morning  train  — 
never  mind  going  to  church,  for  once.  I  will 
get  a  livery  rig  and  take  you  back  in  the  afternoon. 
It  will  be  a  glorious  ride.  Meet  me  at  Harvard 
Square,  Sunday,  at  9.45.  I  am  feeling  better 
than  for  some  weeks. 

Yours   always, 

J.  HOLWORTHY,  M.  D. 


302  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER  CX. 

MISS  HAROLD  TO  DR.   HOLWORTHY. 

After  some  days  Miss  Harold  ivrites  .  expressing 

her  regrets,  etc.    Miss   Meredith    recovering. 

Hope  never  dies. 

CONCORD,  Sept.  5,  1852. 
DR.  HOLWORTHY. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  was  unable  to  accept  your  kind 
invitation  of  some  weeks  ago,  but  Miss  Mere 
dith  wishes  me  to  write  and  ask  you  to  come  up 
and  see  "the  three  old  ladies  "  when  convenient. 

Aunt  Marie  is  better  than  she  has  been  for 
years,  and  to-day  walked  down  to  the  post- 
office  and  back.  She  works  in  the  garden  and 
about  the  house,  and  is  the  youngest  of  the 
three. 

We  have  received  no  further  word  from 
Arthur,  although  I  have  written  both  to  Mr. 
Buckthorn  and  General  Fremont.  I  sometimes 
think  he  may  be  alive ;  the  Indians  may  have 
made  him  a  prisoner. 

With  my  duties  here  and  my  pupils  in  Bos 
ton,  I  am  kept  quite  busy. 

Sincerely  yours, 

H.  HAROLD. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  303 

NUMBER  CXI. 

MISS    HAROLD    TO    DR.    JOHN    HOLWORTHY. 

* 

The  spirit  of  Mrs.  Forbes  passes  away.  A  let 
ter  showing  great  depths  of  tender  feeling. 
The  last  days  of  the  good  mother.  "  Tired  of 
waiting  for  her  boy,  she  goes  to  meet  him." 

[To  some  it  might  seem  a  trifle  queer  that 
Miss  Harold  should  enter  into  such  tender 
detail  in  writing  to  Dr.  Hoi  worthy,  whose  sen 
sibilities  we  know  were  not  over  acute.  I 
think,  however,  the  loving  heart  of  the  writer 
found  solace  for  her  sorrow  by  thus  dwelling 
on  the  last  scenes  of  her  whose- spirit  had  just 
passed  away.  Those  who  have  stood  by  the 
open  graves  of  their  beloved  dead,  know  some 
what  of  this  tendency  to  linger  lovingly  over 
the  details  of  the  last  sad  moments.  Does  the 
breaking  heart  find  balm  in  expression  ? 

In  the  Orient  there  is  a  proverb  used  where  a 
man  has  been  guilty  of  wrong  acts.  They  say, 
"  God  has  seen  fit  to  tempt  him  beyond  what 
he  could  bear."  The  character  of  Dr.  Hoi- 
worthy  as  shown  in  these  letters,  was  weak 
and  vacillating,  but  it  will  be  seen  that  his 
weakness  sprang  from  his  generous  heart. 
The  quality  of  his  affection,  I  admit,  was  not 
exalted,  but  surely  a  dull  and  unloving  per 
son  would  never  have  been  subject  to  his 
inconsistencies.  When  we  see  people  stray 


304  FOKBES  OF  HARVARD. 

from  virtue's  path,  let  us  think  of  the  Hindoo 
proverb  I  have  just  quoted;  for  what  know  we 
of  the  "breaking  tension  "  of  these  souls  about 
us,  and  what  know  we  even  of  our  own  when 
we  sit  in  the  safe  chimney  corner  of  our  firesides ! 
Judge  not. 

This  record  of  the  closing  days  of  Mrs. 
Forbes,  moved  me  deeply.  The  simple,  earnest 
faith  of  this  Christian  woman  overtops  tomes 
of  so-called  free-thought  logic.  In  days  of 
physical  health  her  life  was  filled  with  petty 
cares  and  trials,  she  was  apprehensive  and  often 
fearful.  The  established  religion  of  her  time 
was  full  of  these  nightmares  of  the  soul,  and 
few  escaped  their  baleful  influence.  Yet  at 
the  last  we  see  glimpses  of  the  "peace  that 
passeth  understanding,"  and  perhaps,  if  the 
dead  could  come  back,  we  would  hear  from 
their  lips  that  it  is  ever  so. 

"From  the  voiceless  lips  of  the  unreplying 
dead,  there  comes  no  word  ;  but  in  the  night 
of  death,  hope  sees  a  star;  and  listening  love 
can  hear  the  rustle  of  a  wing.  He  who  sleeps 
here,  said  with  his  latest  breath,  I  am  better 
now.  Let  us  believe  in  spite  of  tears  and  fears 
and  doubts  and  dogmas,  that  these  dear  words 
are  true  of  all  the  countless  dead." 

The  last  days  of  Mrs.  Forbes  were  the  most 
peaceful  she  had  ever  known.  Was  it  a  fore 
taste  of  the  life  to  come  ?  E.  H  .] 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  305 

CONCORD,  MASS.,  May  2,  1853. 

DEAR  DOCTOR  :  — 

I  write  to  inform  you  that  the  spirit  of  our 
dear  friend  Mrs.  Forbes  passed  away  yesterday 
afternoon. 

Wherr  the  word  first  came  of  the  disaster  to 
Arthur,  I  kept  it  from  her,  hoping  for  better 
news  later;  but  alas,  none  came.  Mr.  Penna- 
worth  informed  her  first  that  Arthur  had 
deserted,  and  she  then  began  to  look  for  his 
return.  At  night  when  the  evening  train 
would  come  from  Boston,  she  would  hear  the 
whistle  and  hasten  to  arrange  her  hair  and 
adjust  her  cap  before  the  little  mirror  in  the 
kitchen,  saying  softly  to  herself,  "I  am  his  wee 
white-haired  sweetheart,  so  I  must  look  nice 
when  he  comes ; "  and  then  she  would  go  and 
look  down  the  road  until  I  called  her  in. 

She  would  put  a  plate  on  the  table  for  him, 
and  consult  me  about  what  to  cook,  as  she 
was  always  planning  delicacies  he  liked. 

There  were  some  clothes  in  my  closet  that 
belonged  to  Arthur,  and  she  would  come  in  so 
quietly  and  get  the  garments  to  look  them  over 


306  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

to  see  if  they  needed  mending ;  a  hundred 
times  I  saw  her  do  this.  She  knitted  a  dozen 
pair  of  stockings  for  him,  and  each  Sunday 
morning  laid  out  his  clean  linen,  which  I 
would  again  put  away  after  she  had  gone  down 
stairs. 

Some  years  ago  she  was  irritable  and*  fretful, 
at  times ;  but  the  last  year  her  life  was  sweet, 
calm  and  untroubled  as  the  breath  of  June. 

When  I  would  go  to  the  post-office  she 
would  always  ask  if  I  had  a  letter  from  Arthur. 

By  slow  degrees  her  mind  withdrew,  and  she 
would  sleep  at  hight  as  quietly  as  a  baby.  No 
doubts,  no  fears.  "  My  burden  has  all  been 
taken  away,"  she  would  often  say  to  me;  and 
when  I  tried  to  keep  back  the  tears,  she  would 
say,  "  Why,  my  daughter,  do  you  cry,  when  God 
is  so  good  ? "  She  thought  I  was  her  child 
Martha  who  died  years  ago. 

She  would  request  me  to  read  over  the  letters 
Arthur  had  written,  and  as  I  read  she  would 
close  her  eyes  and  rock  the  chair  back  and 
forth  and  say :  "  How  good  God  is  to  give  me 
such  a  son.  Is  his  cough  better,  Martha  ?  It  is, 
is  it  not  ? " 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  307 

At  last  we  thought  best  to  tell  her  he  was 
dead,  and  I  tried  to  express  it  so  gently.  "No, 
dear  child  ;  I  just  heard  his  voice  in  the  garden," 
she  said.  "  Go,  please,  and  tell  him  I  want  him  to 
come  and  kiss  me  good-night  for  I  am  his  wee 
white-haired  sweetheart,  you  know." 

Gradually  she  grew  weaker  and  weaker. 

Yesterday  morning  we  propped  her  in  the 
big  chair,  where  she  could  look  out  of  the  win 
dow.  I  noticed  her  voice  was  very  faint  as  she 
whispered  :  "  I  think  he  will  come  to-night !  Do 
I  look  all  right  ?  I'm  his  little  sweetheart." 

She  was  very  fond  of  flowers,  and  I  placed 
in  her  hand  a  bunch  of  violets  which  she  had 
herself  planted. 

She  looked  across  the  valley  at  the  hills,  over 
which  played  the  sunshine  and  the  shadow. 
She  motioned  me  to  look,  too ;  and  moved  her 
lips  as  if  trying  to  speak  of  the  serene  beauty 
of  the  scene ;  then  she  closed  her  eyes  and  I 
thought  she  wanted  to  sleep,  so  I  left  her  alone. 

When  I  came  back  in  half  an  hour,  the  thin 
hands  still  held  the  violets  in  her  lap,  just  as 
when  I  left  her,  but  the  fingers  were  cold  and 
stiff,  I  saw  that  the  good  mother  had  waited  as 


308  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

long  as  she  could  for  her  boy.     He  did  not  come, 
and  she  had  gone  to  meet  him. 

We  lay  her  tired   form    away  beneath    the 
pines  in  Sleepy  Hollow  to-morrow  at  ten  o'clock. 
It  is  two  years  to-morrow  since  Arthur  left 
Concord. 

Sincerely  your  friend, 

HONOR  HAROLD. 


NUMBER  CXIII. 

GEN.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT   TO  H.   HAROLD. 

Good^news.     A  letter  from    General  Fremont 
enclosing  newspaper  clippings. 

FORT  ALAMO,  CAL.,  Oct.  4,  1853. 

H.  HAROLD,  ESQ.,  CONCORD,  MASS. 

SIR  :  Some  time  ago  you  interested  your 
self  in  one  Private  Forbes,  a  deserter,  for 
whose  capture  a  reward  was  offered.  By  read 
ing  the  enclosed  clippings  from  the  San 
Francisco  Vindicator,  you  will  see  you  were 
wrong  in  your  conclusions. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  309 

The  charge  against  Forbes  is  a  serious  one, 
but  I  am  inclined  to  believe  the  story  of  his 
being  taken  captive  by  the  Indians  is  truth.  If 
so,  this  would  relieve  him  of  the  implication  of 
desertion  ;  but  the  charge  of  mutiny  he  will  have 
to  stand  trial  for.  A  private  by  the  name  of 
Isaac  Buckhorn,  otherwise  known  as  Huckle 
berry  Ike,  was  here  a  few  months  ago  and 
spoke  very  highly  of  Forbes. 

This  Buckhorn  was  a  scout  in  my  command 
for  awhile;  and  as  he  is  honest,  and  a  good 
judge  of  human  nature,  I  think  his  estimate  of 
the  man  is  correct. 

I  have  ordered  Forbes'  release  on  ticket  of 
leave,  for  nothing  more  can  be  done  now, 
except  to  order  him  to  stay  in  California  and 
let  them  go  on  with  the  court  martial. 

It  may  take  several  months  to  get  the  wit 
nesses  together  for  the  trial,  as  the  complainant, 
Captain  Snyder,  is  in  Texas.  Nothing  but  a 
pardon  from  the  President  can  effect  Forbes' 
release  ;  so  you  will  tell  his  friends  that  they 
must  be  patient,  for  he  will  be  given  an 
impartial  trial. 

I  thought  best  to  send  the  clippings  and  let 


310  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

you  know  that  the  man  is  alive,  as  I  judge  you 
are  an  attorney  acting  for  his  kinsmen.  I 
deemed  it  likely  he  might  feel  his  disgrace  so 
keenly  that  he  would  not  tell  you  of  his  where 
abouts  ;  or,  if  not  this,  he  would  fear  paining 
his  friends  by  reciting  his  difficulties.  I  have 
noticed  that  not  one  soldier  in  a .  hundred 
writes  to  his  folks,  anyway,  even  in  prosperity. 
I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  811 

NUMBER  CXIV. 

FROM     THE     "SAN    FRANCISCO    VINDICATOR" 
OF  SEPT.  14,  1853. 

FICTION    OUTDONE. 


A  Soldier  captured  by  the  Indians  be 
comes  their  Big  Medicine  Man. 


WHILE  WITH   THEM   HE    DISCOVERS   A   RICH 
LEAD  IN  A  DESERTED  MINE. 


CLAIM  BOUGHT  UP  BY  THE  CONSOLIDATED  COM 
PANY  FOR  «35,OOO. 


In  this  glorious  country  there  is  a  quality  in 
the  atmosphere  which  makes  it  easy  to  do 
things  that  would  be  absolutely  impossible  in 
the  dreamy,  effete  and  psychic  East. 

For  instance,  last  week  we  recorded  how 
Freckled  Smith  broke  a  faro  bank,  married 
Dolly  Dimple  the  boss  beauty  of  the  Champs 
Elysees,  and  then  had  four  bullets  sent  through 


312  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

his  gizzard  by  a  former  lover  of  the  Dimple, 
all  inside  of  forty-eight  hours. 

Now  we  have  a  true  story  of  a  different 
nature,  and  much  more  pleasant  to  relate. 

The  sleepy  coyote  who  pretends  to  edit  the 
dirty  sheet  of  bombast  in  Pig  Alley,  and  flatters 
himself  that  he  is  our  competitor,  may  get  the 
news  from  this  report  and  rehash  it  day  after 
to-morrow,  but  here  it  is  now. 

Moral :  When  you  want  the  news,  read  the 
Vindicator.  But  to  our  story  :  At  room  169  in 
the  Grand  Central  Hotel  is  Mr.  A.  R.  Forbes, 
formerly  from  Boston,  and  more  recently  Big 
Medicine  Man  among  the  Blackfeet. 

Forbes  was  a  courier  in  U.  S.  Army  and  ran 
a  night  run  between  Fort  San  Jacinto  and  Bad 
Man's  Gulch,  eighty  miles  straight,  between 
the  time  old  Sol  took  his  night-cap  and  said 
good-by  behind  the  mountains,  and  his  blink 
ing  in  the  bright  A.  M. 

A  hard  ride,  but  many  a  man  in  'Frisco  has 
done  harder. 

On  the  night  of  Feb.  4th,  1852,  Forbes 
started  as  usual.  The  moon  came  out  bright 
and  clear,  a  thing  that  strikes  terror  to  a  night 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  313 

rider  in  an  injun  country.  All  went  well  until* 
our  hero  had  gotten  within  ten  miles  of  the 
fort,  when,  behold  !  Injuns. 

There  they  were — behind  every  rock,  and 
they  let  the  arrows  whiz.  What  could  Forbes 
do  but  turn  about  and  clap  the  spurs  to  his 
mule;  but  the  injuns  had  fresh  horses,  and  it 
was  now  near  daylight  and  the  courier's  mule 
was  fagged. 

No  sane  man  ever  surrenders  to  the  red  dev 
ils.  It's  death  either  way ;  and  better  be  done 
for  in  fair  fight  than  be  tied  to  a  tree  and  have 
your  naked  body  lashed  with  hickory  switches 

9 

by  squaws,  and  end  up  with  a  dance  and  a  holo 
caust  at  which  you  are  invited  to  be  present. 

Forbes  saw  they  were  gaining  on  him,  and 
resolved  to  dismount  and  fight  it  out,  when  an 
arrow  caught  his  mule  in  the  ham  and  down 
she  went,  with  rider  underneath,  and  the  injuns 
had  Forbes  in  a  jiffy.  It  seems  the  mule  was 
only  wounded,  and  up  she  got  and  away. 

They  intended  to  kill  the  prisoner  at  once, 
when  they  captured  him  ;  but  a  row  started 
among  the  red  gents  as  to  who  should  have  his 
scalp.  The  gent  that  wanted  to  kill  him  was 


314  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

restrained  by  a  more  influential  red  gent,  and 
so  they  just  decided  to  carry  him  away  and 
decide  later. 

They  put  Forbes  on  a  horse  and  tied  his  feet 
underneath  so  tight  that  it  took  off  the  skin  ; 
and  on  each  ankle,  now,  he  shows  a  scar  that 
looks  like  a  bracelet. 

They  ran  him  off,  he  thinks,  about  fifty  miles ; 
when  they  camped  in  a  canyon,  and  untied  the 
prisoner  to  look  him  over. 

It  seems  Forbes  had  learned  to  talk  the  Black- 
feet  lingo  a  little ;  and  as  he  is  a  fine  fellow 
anyway,  over  six  feet  tall,  they  fell  to  admiring 
him  as  they  powwowed  about  how  they  would 
send  him  to  the  spirit  land. 

They  had  taken  his  rifle  and  pistols,  but 
didn't  know  how  to  use  them.  Forbes  saw 
one  of  the  injuns  was  a  leader  in  the  party,  and 
he  began  to  talk  to  this  chief. 

He  also  noticed  the  bucks  were  not  on  the 
best  of  terms  with  each  other,  and  that  the 
chief  was  disliked  by  one  big  fellow  in  particu 
lar  ;  so  Forbes  told  the  chief  he  would  like  to 
wrestle  the  big  cuss.  Here  was  fun !  and  the 
challenge  was  given. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD,  815 

Forbes,  it  seems,  is  an  expert  on  the  carpet. 
The  injun  was  not  to  be  bluffed  before  his  fel 
low-citizens,  so  he  stripped  and  they  went  at  it. 
Forbes  got  in  a  half  Nelson  on  him  in  short 
order. 

Then  he  told  the  chief  he  would  fight  any 
one  of  them  with  his  fists  ;  but  an  injun  is  as 
much  afraid  of  a  fist  as  he  is  of  a  revolver,  and 
none  would  come  forward.  He  then  showed 
the  chief  how  to  use  the  rifle,  and  had  got  on 
such  good  terms  with  him,  that  as  they  could 
not  decide  as  to  which  one  should  have  his 
scalp,  they  just  let  him  keep  it  himself. 

Forbes  told  them  he  was  a  Medicine  Man, 
and  wanted  to  become  one  of  the  tribe.  So 
they  let  him  paint  his  face,  and  he  changed 
clothes  with  several  of  them,  which  they  were 
glad  to  do.  And  he  went  with  them  clear  up 
to  the  North  Branch  of  the  Muscle  Shell,  where 
they  were  going  to  trap  beaver. 

All  of  this  is  not  to  the  point,  however ;  only 

preliminary,  and  by  the  way.     The  thing  that 

touches  our  souls  about  the  case  is,  that  while 

^    with  these  injuns  Forbes  found  a  gold  lead  that 

assays  the  richest  that  has  been  seen  since  the 


316  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Sally  Waters  was  located.  The  injuns  showed 
Forbes  the  lead ;  and  he  escaped  soon  after, 
and  struck  an  overland  train  and  a  troop  of 
cavalry.  With  this  train  was  Major  Beezum, 
chief  prospector  for  the  New  York  Consolidated 
Mining  Company. 

Forbes  got  Beezum  interested,  and  they 
looked  the  claim  over ;  and  the  result  of  it  is, 
that  Forbes  has  sold  out  to  the  Consolidated 
for  $35,000  in  cash. 

He  has  got  the  money  in  five  New  York 
drafts,  and  sails  on  the  Western  Queen  for 
New  York  to-morrow. 

Forbes  is  as  modest  a  brown-whiskered 
gentleman  as  you  could  find  in  a  day's  search. 
He  was  trying  on  a  gray  suit  of  store  clothes 
at  Solomon  Eikenstein's  (whose  advertisement 
appears  in  this  paper)  when  the  reporter  found 
him.  He  was. averse  to  telling  the  story,  but 
the  Vindicator  interviewers  are  the  kind  that 
get  the  facts. 

The  Consolidated  is  to  be  congratulated  on 
the  purchase.  They  now  have  four  of  the  best 
producing  claims  yet  struck  in  California ;  and 
although  the  fools  that  came  here  in  '49,  expect- 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  317 

ing  to  pick  up  double  eagles  in  the  street,  got 
badly  left,  yet  the  gold  mines  of  this  country 
are  bound  to  turn  out  the  dust,  when  worked 
on  scientific  principles.  Great  is  California ! 


NUMBER  CX. 

FROM      THE      SAN     FRANCISCO     VINDICATOR      OF 
SEPT.     1 6,     1853. 

The  Vindicator  yesterday  recorded  the  facts 
about  one  Forbes  selling  his  claim  to  the  Con 
solidated.  The  money  had  all  been  paid  over 
and  Forbes  had  engaged  passage  and  state 
room  on  the  Western  Queen,  which  sailed  to 
day.  But  just  as  he  was  going  on  board  he 
was  arrested  by  United  States  Marshal  Wat- 
kins,  on  charge  of  mutiny,  and  desertion  from 
the  army. 

This  fully  explains  the  haste  Forbes  has 
shown  in  starting  for  the  East. 

The  prisoner  was  seen  at  the  jail,  but  refused 
to  talk.  He  seems  to  be  a  very  gentlemanly 
individual  on  the  surface ;  but  they  say  he  is  a 


318  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

bad  one,  and  can  use  a  knife  quicker  than  any 
man  this  side  of  the  Ridge. 

He  led  an  insurrection  at  Fort  San  Jacinto, 
and  locked  the  commander  of  the  fort  in  the 
guard-house,  and  afterwards  made  him  do 
guard  duty,  carrying  a  rail ;  the  troops  got  into 
the  supplies,  and  made  the  corks  fly,  and  all 
hands  had  a  glorious  drunk,  ending  up  with  a 
fight  in  which  four  were  killed. 

Forbes  took  six  horses  and  all  the  money 
that  was  sent  to  pay  off  the  troops,  and  made 
good  his  escape.  This  was  over  a  year  ago ; 
it  may  take  a  little  time,  but  eventually  justice 
must  be  done.  Verily  the  way  of  the  trans 
gressor  is  hard ! 

There  is  no  mistake  about  the  claim,  though ; 
the  latest  report  is  that  it  is  richer  than  at  first 
reported  by  Colonel  Beezum.  We  congratulate 
the  Consolidated  on  the  purchase. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  319 

NUMBER  CXVI. 

GEN.  JOHN  C.   FREMONT  TO    H.   HAROLD. 

information  given  that  the  money  Forbes 
was  entrusted  to  carry  zvas  faithfully  guarded. 
Its  rettirn  leads  to  his  arrest. 

FORT  ALAMO,  Oct.  6,  1853. 

H.  HAROLD,  CONCORD,  MASS. 

DEAR  SIR  :  Since  writing  you  a  few  days 
ago,  I  have  received  official  notification  of  the 
arrest  of  Forbes. 

It  seems  he  had  the  money  which  he  was 
entrusted  to  carry,  in  a  leather  pouch  fastened 
to  his  belt,  and  he  carried  this  through  all  his 
experience  with  the  Indians.  The  money  was 
returned  to  the  United  States  paymaster  at 
'Frisco  by  Forbes  immediately  on  his  arrival 
there,  and  led  to  the  arrest. 

You  thus  see  that  if  he  had  not  seen  fit  to 
report  to  the  authorities,  he  would  not  have 
been  arrested  at  all,  as  the  belief  had  gone 
out  that  he  had  been  killed,  and  his  record  on 
the  service  books  reads,  "Killed  in  action." 

The  charges  now  against  him  are  reduced  to 


320  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

those  of  mutiny  and  inciting  insurrection,  fol 
lowed  by  desertion  and  theft.  These,  under 
some  circumstances,  would  be  very  serious 
offences ;  but  as  it  stands,  if  he  is  found  guilty 
the  penalty  ought  not  to  be  severe. 

The  newspaper  reports  I  sent  you  were  not 
very  exact,  but  as  near  the  truth,  I  suppose,  as 
the  average  newspaper  can  get.  Reporters 
have  no  time  to  sift  evidence.  No  doubt  they 
wish  to  tell  the  truth,  but  they  desire  still  more 
to  write  a  readable  article. 
I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 


NUMBER  CXVII. 

H.    HAROLD    TO    GEN.    JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 

CONCORD,  MASS.,   Nov.    18,   1853. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  — 

Your  favors  of  October  4th  and  6th  received. 

Your  great  kindness  in  thus  interesting  your 
self  in  the  misfortunes  of  a  worthy  man  is  only 
equaled  by  the  joy  your  letters  caused  to  the 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  321 

friends  of  Mr.   Forbes  on  hearing  of  his  being 
alive. 

I  have  not  yet  decided  what  steps  will  be 
taken  for  his  defense ;  but  I  trust  no  move  will 
be  made  in  the  trial,  until  the  friends  of  Mr. 
Forbes  can  have  time  to  act  in  his  behalf. 
With  high  regard,  dear  general,  I  am, 
Sincerely  yours, 

H.  HAROLD. 


NUMBER  CXVIII. 

HONOR    HAROLD    TO    MISS    MARIE    MEREDITH. 

The  trip  to  Washington.  The  call  at  the  White 
House.  The  pardon.  All  aboard  for  the 
Golden  Gate. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  Nov.  22,  1853. 

DEAR  AUNT  MARIE:  — 

I  arrived  here  all  right,  at  nine  o'clock  this 
morning,  and  had  no  trouble  in  finding  Mr. 
Sumner. 

The  Senator  read  over  the  letters  of  Mr. 
Buckthorn,  and  made  memorandum  of  the  fact 
that  General  Fremont  had  great  faith  in  him. 


322  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

Those  affidavits,  and  the  petition  signed  by 
all  of  the  Harvard  professors,  he  said  were  all 
in  perfect  order.  The  letter  of  General  Fre 
mont,  expressing  a  belief  in  Arthur's  inno 
cence,  he  considered  the  best  of  all ;  and  the 
fact  of  his  having  returned  the  money,  was  of 
course  in  his  favor. 

The  Senator  then  called  a  carriage  and  we 
went  to  the  White  House. 

The  President  received  us  very  cordially  — 
no  more  formality  than  going  into  the  Concord 
Bank.  There  were  several  men  waiting ;  but 
Mr.  Pierce  was  in  no  hurry,  and  read  over  all 
the  letters  carefully.  He  smiled  a  little  at  Mr. 
Buckthorn's  and  sighed  at  General  Fremont's, 
and  asked  if  H.  Harold,  Esq.,  was  my  father. 

I  had  to  explain  that  /  was  H.  Harold,  Esq. 
Then  he  smiled  again ;  then  looked  sober,  and 
tapped  absent-mindedly  on  the  desk.  Then  he 
opened  his  watch,  and  I  saw  the  picture  of  a 
face  in  miniature  on  the  dial.  He  looked  at 
it  an  instant,  and  turned  to  me  and  asked 
abruptly,  "Are  you  engaged  to  be  married  to 
Mr.  Forbes  ? "  Perhaps  he  saw  I  was  a  little 
agitated.  I  answered  at  once,  "Yes,  sir." 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  323 

He  blew  his  nose  very  savagely  on  a  big  red 
handkerchief,  and  reached  over  and  took  a  pen 
and  signed  his  name  deliberately  to  the  pardon 
which  Senator  Sumner  had  already  written  out. 
A  clerk  standing  near  affixed  a  big  seal  to  the 
document. 

Not  another  word  did  the  President  say.  I 
tried  to  speak,  but  could  not ;  he  pressed  my 
hand  and  bowed  us  out,  and  here  I  am  waiting 
for  the  train  for  New  York. 

The  steamer  sails  at  5  P.  M.  for  the  Isth 
mus  ;  and,  if  we  have  fair  weather,  I  will  get  to 
San  Francisco  in  four  weeks. 

Adieu,  dear  old  aunty !  I  love  you  well ; 
and  will  write  you  a  little  line  every  day  on  the 
trip,  and  mail  it  when  I  can. 

With  tenderest  regard  to  the  Dearest  of 
Womankind,  I  am, 

Ever  your 

"HoNor  BRIGHT." 


324  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER   CXIX. 

HONOR  HAROLD  TO  MARIE  MEREDITH. 

And  it  came  to  pass. 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  Dec.  23,  1853. 

MY  DEAR  AUNT  :  — 

I  mailed  you  an  envelope  filled  to  overflow 
ing  at  the  Isthmus,  and  a  still  larger  one  has 
gone  to-day,  all  filled  with  messages  I  wrote  my 
dear  old  aunt  on  board  ship. 

I  told  you  of  the  wonderful  sights  of  the  sea ; 
of  going  down  from  New  England,  the  land  of 
lingering  snow,  to  the  tropics,  where  roses  are 
always  in  bloom.  Of  how  our  steamer  came 
creeping  up  the  western  coast ;  of  the  whale 
we  saw;  of  the  porpoises  and  flying  fish,  and 
how  the  passengers  and  officers  of  the  boat 
vied  with  each  other  in  kindnesses  to  your  girlie. 
Why  was  this,  Auntie  Dear?  You  must  have 
told  them  a  great  lot  of  nice  things  about  me, 
and  they  believed  them  all ;  and  so  I  have  been 
treated  as  a  very  princess  ever  since  I  left 
Concord. 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  325 

It  was  the  same  at  Washington,  at  New  York, 
and  better  than  all,  here  in  San  Francisco. 

There  !  I  know  you  are  all  on  nettles.  Your 
heart  thumps  as  you  read,  and  your  hand  shakes 
a  little,  and  you  say,  But  Arthur  —  our  Arthur? 

Well,  auntie  dear,  he  is  looking  over  this 
sheet  as  I  write  —  now,  is  not  that  enough  ? 

Why  need  I  write  more,  for  now  you  know 
that  he  is  well  and  safe ;  but  there !  you  want 
to  know  of  my  finding  him. 

Well,  he  knew  nothing  of  my  coming,  and 
yet,  when  the  steamer  drew  up  slowly  to  the 
dock,  I  saw  hundreds  of  people  awaiting  her 
arrival  ;  and  among  them,  leaning  against  a 
post,  was  a  young  man  far  taller  then  the  rest. 
He  wore  gray  clothes  and  a  wide-brimmed 
sombrero,  and  his  face  was  very  grave  and  a 
little  careworn  —  had  I  ever  seen  it  before  ? 

I  kept  looking  at  him  and  I  saw  he  was 
scanning  the  faces  of  the  passengers,  for  we 
were  all  out  on  deck.  His  eyes  followed  along 
the  upper  rail  until  he  came  to  me,  and  then 
he  held  out  both  arms  toward  me. 

I  must  confess  that  your  strong,  self-reliant 
young  woman  now  became  suddenly  weak  ;  at 


326  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

the  last  my  strength  left  me.  I  only  remem 
ber  that  my  hand  went  to  my  bosom,  where  the 
President's  pardon  was  sewed  into  my  dress, 
and  I  grasped  the  rail  for  support,  and  that  in 
some  way  I  got  down  across  the  gang  plank, 
and  that  there  my  lover  was  waiting  to 
receive  me. 

He  said  not  a  word,  and  I  could  not,  for  I 
could  scarcely  stand. 

He  put  me  in  a  carriage,  and  as  we  rode  he 
held  my  hand ;  but  not  a  word  was  spoken, 
until  we  arrived  at  the  house  where  I  now 
write.  Here  Arthur  helped  me  from  the  car 
riage  and  introduced  me  to  a  white-haired  old 
lady  who  seemed  to  be  waiting  for  me,  and  she 
called  me  "  my  dear "  and  took  me  into  the 
cosiest  little  parlor  you  ever  saw,  and  then  for 
the  first  time  I  found  my  tongue. 

" How  did  you  know  I  was  coming? "  I  asked. 
Arthur  smiled  and  the  old  lady  smiled,  and 
then  we  all  smiled;  and  the  old  lady  said,  "Mr. 
Forbes  told  me  you  were  coming  all  alone  from 
New  York.  What  an  awful  long  trip  for  one 
so  young !  Why !  you  ain't  much  older  than 
my  Matilda,  and  I  would  not  trust  her  to  go 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD.  327 

down  town  alone,  hardly.  Mr.  Forbes  came 
here  to  board  with  me  because  it  was  so  noisy 
at  the  hotel.  Why !  what  makes  you  cry  so,  my 
dear?  You  are  here  all  safe  among  friends. 
And  I  declare  if  Mr.  Forbes  ain't  crying,  too! 
—  and  I  fear  I  have  something  in  my  eye." 

That  account  in  the  Vindicator  about  Arthur's 
being  captured  by  the  Indians  was  nearly  cor 
rect.  A  wonderful  experience :  he  kept  a 
journal  the  whole  time,  writing  on  birch  bark. 
You  shall  see  it.  And  about  the  mine,  too  —  it 
proves  now  to  be  worth  more  than  he  got  for  it ; 
but  no  difference  about  that. 

There !  Dear,  loving,  fault-finding,  old 
auntie,  I  cannot  finish  this  letter  to-night,  so  I 
will  just  lay  it  aside  and  complete  it  to-morrow. 
By  that  time,  perhaps,  I  may  be  able  to  tell 
you  how  my  Lover  knew  that  I  was  coming. 

Good-night,  Auntie  Dear !  To-morrow  I  will 
finish  the  sheet  and  write  you  several  more 
besides,  and  tell  you  all  about  — 


328  FORBES  OF  HARVARD. 

NUMBER    CXX. 

FROM       THE      SAN      FRANCISCO     VINDICATOR     OF 
DEC.  26,  1853. 

MARRIED.  —  On  Christmas  Day,  at  the  resi 
dence  of  Mrs.  Tyler,  No.  217  Magnolia  Street, 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  H.  M.  Brown,  Arthur  Ripley 
Forbes  to  Miss  Honor  Harold.  (Boston  papers 
please  copy.) 


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